With Uha Reddy, MD, Tryon Medical Partners
Osteoporosis, often called the “silent thief,” is a condition that gradually weakens bones, making them fragile and prone to fractures. This stealthy disease affects millions worldwide, yet many remain unaware of its presence until a broken bone occurs. But what exactly causes our skeleton to lose its strength?
Tryon Medical Partners endocrinology specialist Dr. Uha Reddy weighs in on what causes osteoporosis, its symptoms, risk factors, and effective strategies for prevention and treatment.
What causes osteoporosis?
At its core, osteoporosis results from an imbalance in the body’s natural bone remodeling process. Throughout our lives, our bones undergo constant renewal, with old bone tissue being broken down and replaced by new bone. However, various factors can disrupt this process, leading to accelerated bone loss or inadequate bone formation.
The most common type of osteoporosis, postmenopausal osteoporosis, is caused by the hormonal changes that occur during menopause. When estrogen production decreases, bone building decreases, which puts older women at higher risk for osteoporosis.
“Men are also at risk of developing osteoporosis and they are often underdiagnosed,” Dr. Reddy warns. “For many older women, bone density is automatically checked at their appointments once they’ve gone through menopause. For men, there’s no clear indicator for when bone density scans should begin, which often means they’re overlooked.”
Who is at risk for osteoporosis?
As postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common type, people who go through menopause are at highest risk of developing osteoporosis. However, there are other risk factors, including::
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol use
- Family history of fractures in the hip
- Personal history of fracture
- Low body weight
- Taking certain medications, such as steroids
- Associated conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
How can I prevent osteoporosis?
Given the risk factors, Dr. Reddy recommends the following lifestyle adjustments to prevent osteoporosis:
- Smoking cessation
- Limit or eliminate alcohol use
- Do weight-bearing exercises for osteoporosis – lift weights, or use your own body weight in activities like pilates or yoga
- Make sure you’re getting enough calcium – in your diet through dairy and green vegetables or through supplements
- Optimize your Vitamin D intake and consider checking your levels annually
“Also, preventing falls is very important in helping to prevent fractures,” Dr. Reddy advises. “Don’t go up ladders by yourself, make sure you use railings going up and down stairs, and use caution when walking big dogs that can pull.”
What are signs and symptoms of osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is called the “silent thief” because it doesn’t show any signs or symptoms. Because osteoporosis often goes untreated until there’s a fracture, this takes away valuable time for prevention. Without signs of osteoporosis, knowing your risk factors is all the more important.
Dr. Reddy’s most important advice, given the invisible nature of osteoporosis, is to have a primary care physician and see them regularly for preventative visits. They will likely order a bone density scan and then you can see an osteoporosis specialist as needed.
“Of course, it’s important to see your doctor for urgent visits, when necessary,” Dr. Reddy says. “However, preventative care visits are just as important. This will help ensure osteoporosis is caught long before it causes a fracture.”
When should I see a doctor for osteoporosis?
Dr. Reddy shares one easy rule of thumb: if you are 65 or older, go to your primary care clinician for a bone density scan. If you’re younger than 65, but have risk factors, earlier is better.
If you fall and get a fracture, please make sure to let your primary care physician know so that you get the appropriate management.
“Often, only the orthopedic surgeons operating on the fractures will know about them,” Dr. Reddy shares. “The issue is that they aren’t the clinicians that are going to treat your ongoing osteoporosis. Make sure you loop in your primary care clinician so the whole healthcare team knows. If you are reading this, realizing it’s time for a bone density exam for you or a loved one, use MedChat to book an appointment at Tryon Medical Partners today.”
Tryon Medical Partners is an independent medical practice dedicated to maintaining trusted patient-doctor relationships, providing excellent and personalized care, and giving you the choices in healthcare that you deserve. With eight convenient locations throughout Charlotte, Tryon Medical Partners specializes in primary care as well as cardiology, dermatology, gynecology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonary, rheumatology and sleep medicine.
