Mecosta County General Hospital - Big Rapids Michigan

"The most common symptoms of osteoporosis are bone fractures, stooped posture, loss of height, and back pain."

Tracy Sackett-Foster, PA-C is a Certified Physician Assistant at Mecosta Health Services in Big Rapids. She assists Family Practice Physician Thomas Wright, D.O.

Office hours are 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
(231) 796-3200

Article obtained from Yahoo Health and ISL Consulting Company, The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and RDA guidelines.

Osteoporosis-Symptoms and Prevention

Symptoms of Bone Loss
Bone loss often progresses over the years without any symptoms, and the few symptoms that do occur, usually only appear in the advanced stages.

The most common symptoms of osteoporosis are:

Bone fractures
Stooped posture,
Loss of height
Back pain

Fractures
Osteoporosis thins and weakens the bones, increasing the risk that even a light bump or sudden strain will cause a "fracture" (break). While all bones are affected, the areas prone to the most bone loss are the spine, hips, and wrists. The lower spine connects your upper body to your pelvis and legs, and is the area of your spine that gives you the ability to lift, turn, twist, and bend. Because each of these areas of the body contributes to our balance and mobility, it is critical to protect them and consequently to protect your freedom of movement.

Stooped Posture/Height Loss
A compression fracture occurs when the weakened bone tissue of a vertebra collapses. Sometimes there is numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs. Over time, multiple compression fractures can lead to stooped posture, a hump on the upper back, and a loss in height by as much as six inches.

Acute or Chronic Back Pain
Affecting 45 percent of the population each year, back pain is a very common complaint and a symptom of many conditions from back strain to arthritis. It is also one of the symptoms of osteoporosis.

See your doctor if you have "acute back" pain (lasting a few days to a few weeks) or "chronic" back pain (lasting longer than three months).

Prevention
It doesn't matter what age you are - you can start to improve your bone health today. You can stop osteoporosis in its tracks with the following five preventive measures:

1) Good General Nutrition
A diet that includes foods from each of the four food groups (milk, meat, fruit, and grain) at every meal, will start you off on the right foot for good general nutrition. Most of your calories should come from complex carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits. Milk and meat products are to be eaten in moderation and fats and oils should be used sparingly. Eat at least three meals a day, and do not skip breakfast.

2) A Diet Rich in Calcium and Vitamin D
In your early years, calcium builds strong bones. In later life it maintains those strong bones and supports the smooth functioning of your heart, muscles and nervous system. Vitamin D is necessary to help your body absorb the calcium.
- Calcium rich foods include low or non-fat milk, yogurt, kale, turnip greens, bok choy, broccoli, and oranges. Canned sardines with bones, almonds and cooked dried beans are also high in calcium.
- Vitamin D rich foods include fatty fish such as salmon and fish oils such as cod liver oil. Mackerel, sardines, liver, and egg yolks also contain significant amounts of vitamin D.

- Vitamin D fortified dairy products such as milk, (low fat or skim) and margarine, are excellent sources. Other fortified products can include cereal grain bars, pudding made with fortified milk, and various dry breakfast cereals.

3) Weight-Bearing Exercise
Weight bearing exercises put the right kind of demands on your bones to make them build density and strength. When you walk, jog, climb stairs, dance, or jump, or play tennis or soccer, your feet and legs bear the impact of your weight against the force of gravity. Weight bearing exercises stimulate the bones in your hips and spine, helping to prevent osteoporosis in the exact areas that are vulnerable to the loss of bone mass. Moderate exercise three to four times a week can prevent and manage the loss of bone associated with osteoporosis.

4) Healthy Lifestyle
- Don't smoke. Studies have shown that men who smoke are two to three times more likely to suffer a spinal fracture than men who don't smoke. - Don't abuse alcohol. Heavy drinking severely hampers the body's ability to absorb calcium and inhibits the formation of bone tissue.

Painless diagnostic tests can determine your bone mineral density (BMP), along with scans of the spine, hip, and arm.

It is important to know that osteoporosis is a preventable and treatable condition. Start today to learn how to improve your bone health and avoid the risks of osteoporosis.

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