Which bones are prone to fracture in osteoporosis

Be sure to discuss with your provider whether supplements are a good choice for you. Medicines to treat osteoporosis can help prevent future fractures.

Spine bones that have already collapsed can't be made stronger. Osteoporosis can cause a person to become disabled from weakened bones. Hip fractures are one of the main reasons people are admitted to nursing homes. Be sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D to build and maintain healthy bones.

Following a healthy, well-balanced diet can help you get these and other important nutrients. Medicines can treat osteoporosis and prevent fractures. Your provider can tell you if any are right for you. Thin bones; Low bone density; Metabolic bone disease; Hip fracture - osteoporosis; Compression fracture - osteoporosis; Wrist fracture - osteoporosis. Managing osteoporosis in patients on long-term bisphosphonate treatment: report of a Task Force of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

J Bone Miner Res. PMID: pubmed. Clinical practice: postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med. Clinician's guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. Osteoporosis: basic and clinical aspects. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Exercise and fractures in postmenopausal women. Moyer VA; U. Preventive Services Task Force. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation to prevent fractures in adults: U.

Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. Treatment of low bone density or osteoporosis to prevent fractures in men and women: a clinical practice guideline update from the American College of Physicians. Updated by: Gordon A. Editorial team.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break fracture. Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease. Your body needs the minerals calcium and phosphate to make and keep healthy bones. During your life, your body continues to both reabsorb old bone and create new bone.

As long as your body has a good balance of new and old bone, your bones stay healthy and strong. Bone loss occurs when more old bone is reabsorbed than new bone is created. Watch this video about: Osteoporosis. Exams and Tests. Your health care provider uses this test to: Diagnose bone loss and osteoporosis. Predict your risk for future bone fractures. See how well osteoporosis medicine is working. The DEXA is most often repeated every 2 years. Treatment for osteoporosis may involve: Making lifestyle changes, such as changing your diet and exercise routine Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements Using medicines Medicines are used to strengthen bones when: Osteoporosis has been diagnosed by a bone density study , whether or not you have a fracture, and your fracture risk is high.

In addition to low bone density, examples of fracture risk factors include:. These may include medications for treating the condition as well as lifestyle changes. Three types of fractures are commonly experienced by those with osteoporosis: vertebral, forearm and wrist, and hip fractures. A common fracture type for women with osteoporosis is one they may not know about — a vertebral fracture. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons , an estimated , Americans experience spinal fractures annually.

Vertebral fractures are twice as common as broken hips and wrists. They occur when you break one of the bones in your spine, known as a vertebra. Symptoms associated with a vertebral fracture include:. However, others may start to lose height or experience a curve in their spine known as kyphosis. Most often, falls cause vertebral fractures. But they can also occur from everyday tasks, such as reaching, twisting, or even sneezing. Certain actions that transmit enough force to the spine, such as driving across railroad tracks, may cause vertebral fractures as well.

Often the result of a fall, wrist and forearm fractures are another common fracture type for women with osteoporosis. An estimated 80 percent of all forearm fractures occur in women. Age increases your risk of hip fractures. Of all the people hospitalized for hip fractures, 80 percent are 65 or older. About 72 percent of hip fractures in people age 65 or older were female.

Osteoporosis already signifies weakened bones. When the impact of a fall affects the hip joint of a person with osteoporosis, a fracture can occur. Hip fractures require surgery as well as postsurgical rehabilitation to heal and restore mobility. Hormones in the human body can greatly impact bone building and strength.

Three of the most important hormones related to bone growth and maintenance include estrogen, parathyroid hormone, and testosterone. Estrogen is thought to stimulate osteoblasts, which are bone-growing cells.

Estrogen also seems to inhibit osteoclasts, which are cells that break down bone. The dramatic drops in estrogen that occur after a woman goes through menopause can lead to significant bone loss. Some risk factors for bone fractures are unavoidable — such as being older than 65, being female, or having a family history of osteoporosis.

However, there are lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your risk of bone fractures, such as quitting smoking. Because falls are a contributing factor to osteoporosis-related fractures, anyone living with osteoporosis should take steps like the following to prevent falls:.

Calcium and vitamin D are two important components of strong bones. The majority of all hip and spine fractures among older white women can be attributed to underlying bone fragility.

Moreover, women near or past menopause who have sustained a fracture in the past are more likely to experience another fracture. Yet, unfortunately, few patients with osteoporotic fractures are referred for an osteoporosis evaluation and medical treatment. Is it too late to talk to my doctor about osteoporosis? It is never too late. Ideally, you should talk to your doctor during your recovery about whether you might be a candidate for an osteoporosis evaluation.

But even if your fracture has healed, you can be evaluated and begin taking steps to protect your bones now. What kind of doctor should I see about getting an osteoporosis evaluation? Many different kinds of doctors can evaluate and treat osteoporosis. You might start with your primary care doctor or the doctor treating your fracture.

He or she probably can conduct the evaluation and may then refer you to a specialist, such as an endocrinologist or rheumatologist, if you require treatment. What does an osteoporosis evaluation involve? One thing your doctor will do is ask about your medical history and lifestyle to determine whether you have risk factors for osteoporosis.

Some of the factors that increase the risk of developing osteoporosis include personal or family history of fractures; low levels of the hormone estrogen or testosterone; and the use of certain medications, such as glucocorticoids or anti-seizure medications, that may contribute to bone fragility. Your doctor also may want to test your blood or urine and may suggest that you have a bone mineral density test. What is a bone mineral density test? Is it painful? A bone mineral density BMD test is the best way to determine your bone health.

This test can identify osteoporosis, determine your risk for fractures broken bones , and measure your response to osteoporosis treatment. The test is painless, a bit like having an x-ray, but with much less exposure to radiation. It can measure bone density at your hip and spine and takes only 15 minutes to complete. For a DXA test, you will be asked to lie on a table while a machine above you measures your bone density.

If I am diagnosed with osteoporosis, what should I do next? You may feel concerned or even frightened after being diagnosed with osteoporosis. However, the good news is that, armed with information and the support of your doctor, you can significantly improve your bone health and reduce your risk of future fractures with a combination of medication, diet, exercise, and lifestyle modifications.

Some of my friends take medication for osteoporosis. Should I talk to my doctor about this? Your doctor can help you understand the benefits and risks of each of these medications and select one that is right for you, if appropriate.

In men, reduced levels of testosterone may be linked to the development of osteoporosis. Men with abnormally low levels of testosterone may be prescribed testosterone replacement therapy to help prevent or slow bone loss.

What else can I do to protect my bones? In addition to taking your medication, some of the most important things you can do are to follow a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, maintain an adequate daily intake of protein, monitor your sodium intake, and get plenty of exercise. It is perfectly understandable that you want to avoid another fracture. No one who has broken a bone wants to revisit that pain and loss of independence.

Remaining physically active reduces your risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes. It may also protect you against prostate and breast cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

What type of exercise is best to reduce my risk of another fracture? Exercise can reduce your risk of fracturing in two ways — by helping you build and maintain bone density and by enhancing your balance, flexibility, and strength, all of which reduce your chance of falling.