Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become thin, brittle, weak, and more likely to break. A combination of things, not all of which you can control, can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis. These include:

• being female
• a small, thin body frame
• a family history of the disease
• postmenopausal or advanced age
• abnormal absence of menstrual periods
• eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia)
• a diet low in calcium and vitamin D
• inactive lifestyle
• cigarette smoking
• long-term use of glucocorticoids (medicines for many diseases like arthritis, asthma, and lupus)

While White and Asian women have the highest rates of osteoporosis, African American women are at risk as well. As African American women get older, their risk of developing osteoporosis more closely resembles the risk of White women. Lupus and sickle cell anemia, which are more common in African American women, increase the risk for osteoporosis.

Making sure to get enough calcium and exercise in the teen years and beyond can help prevent osteoporosis later in life. Your health care provider can find out if you have osteoporosis by giving you a bone mineral density test, which takes pictures like x-rays of the skeleton. If you are getting osteoporosis, you can prevent future bone fractures by having a calcium-rich diet, daily exercise, and drug therapy. There are a variety of drugs available to help preserve or increase bone mass. Talk with your health care provider about what is best for you.