OSTEOPOROSIS... WHAT IS IT?

OSTEOPOROSIS: Is a disease that occurs when bones become thin, porous, brittle and weak. These conditions can lead to fractures and breaks. Typically there are no symptoms because bone density loss can not be seen or felt. People may not know they have Osteoporosis until they suffer a fracture or bone brake.

You may not notice symptoms of osteoporosis until you break a bone, notice a loss in height, or find that your upper back bends forward. However, your doctor has ways to determine if you have osteoporosis or are at risk of developing it. Your doctor may ask you questions about your medical history with particular attention to your overall health, medications, fractures, diet and family history. Your may need a physical examination and blood and urine test to rule out other diseases that weaken bones.

RISK FACTORS:

• Are you past menopause?
• Did you or your mother lose height, have a curved back, or break a hip, wrist, or spine after age 50?
• Are you Caucasian or Asian?
• Do you have a small, thin frame?
• Have you ever been a smoker?
• Do you take or have you ever taken oral steroids, such as prednisone (for 3 months or more)?

  If you are at risk for developing osteoporosis or already show signs of the disease, your doctor will probably order a bone-density test. This test is the best way to predict the risk of fracture in patients who have not already broken a bone. It is a helpful tool for diagnosis of osteoporosis, particularly in the disease's early stages.

  Getting an accurate measure of bone density can help you and your doctor evaluate the need for preventive measures and treatment. Bone-density tests should be done in people who are taking glucocorticoids; anyone who shows suspicious spine fractures; and those who have diseases that affect calcium absorption.

Read Osteoporosis "Question and Answers."

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