Osteoporosis

“In fact, a woman can lose up to 20% of her bone density
during the five – seven years
following menopause”.1

Umbrella
What may the Osteoporosis Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Low Bone Density/Mass
  • Osteoporosis
  • Porous Bones

Osteopenia

What is osteopenia?

DotS the definition of osteopenia may vary. The (United States National Institutes of Health) NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center’s definition is:

“Osteopenia. Low bone mass”.2

Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

DotS the definition of osteoporosis may vary. The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s (IOF) definition is:

“Osteoporosis literally means ‘porous bone’. It is a condition where bones become thin and lose their strength, as they become less dense and their quality is reduced. This can lead to broken bones, which cause pain, disability, and make everyday activities extremely difficult”.3

Women

Why are women more likely to get osteoporosis than men?

In What Women Need To Know the (United States) Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) note:

“There are multiple reasons why women are more likely to get osteoporosis than men, including:

  • Women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men
  • Estrogen, a hormone in women that protects bones, decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can cause bone loss. This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases as women reach menopause”.4

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and bone loss?

In What Women Need To Know: Menopause: A Time for Action the BHOF elaborate on:

National Osteoporosis Month May 2020

“When a woman reaches menopause, her estrogen levels drop and can lead to bone loss. For some women, this bone loss is rapid and severe.

Two major factors that affect your chance of getting osteoporosis are:

  • The amount of bone you have when you reach menopause. The greater your bone density is to begin with, the lower your chance of developing osteoporosis. If you had low peak bone mass or other risk factors that caused you to lose bone, your chance of getting osteoporosis is greater.
  • How fast you lose bone after you reach menopause. For some women, bone loss happens faster than for others. In fact, a woman can lose up to 20% of her bone density during the five – seven years following menopause. If you lose bone quickly, you have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis”.5

The Australasian Menopause Society note:

“The female sex hormone oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone strength. After menopause oestrogen levels drop and this may result in increased bone loss. The average woman loses up to 10 per cent of her bone mass in the first five years after menopause”.6

The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) also note:

  • “When women go through menopause, there is a rapid loss of bone because of decreased oestrogen and this process may last from 4-8 years after menopause”.7

The JH also add:

  • “After this period of time the rate of bone loss is reduced and stabilises”.8

Common or Not

How common is osteoporosis?

In Epidemiology of Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures the IOF elaborate on 2008 information:

  • “Using the WHO definition of osteoporosis, the disease affects approximately 6.3% of men over the age of 50 and 21.2% of women over the same age range globally. Based on the world population of men and women, this suggests that approximately 500 million men and women worldwide may be affected”.9

In the United States, according to the BHOF:

“About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Studies suggest that approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis”.10

In the United Kingdom (UK), according to the Royal Osteoporosis Society:

“Over three million people in the UK are living with osteoporosis”.11

Women

How many women have osteoporosis?

In the United States, the BHOF explain:

Osteoporosis

  • “Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80% are women”.12

Silent Disease

Why is osteoporosis called the ‘silent disease’?

In About Osteoporosis the IOF explain:

“Osteoporosis is often called the ‘silent disease’ because most people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they suffer a broken bone from a minor fall or bump – something that would not normally have caused such a drastic injury. In fact, even after breaking a bone, around 80% of patients are still not diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis, the underlying disease which has caused the fracture”.13

In What Is Osteoporosis and What Causes It? Osteoporosis Can Sneak Up on You the BHOF also note:

“Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because one can’t feel bones weakening. Breaking a bone is often the first sign of osteoporosis or a patient may notice that he or she is getting shorter or their upper back is curving forward. If you are experiencing height loss or your spine is curving, be sure to consult your doctor or healthcare professional immediately”.14

Diagnosis

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

In Osteoporosis Overview: Causes of Osteoporosis the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center explain:

“Doctors usually diagnose osteoporosis during routine screening for the disease. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for:

  • Women over age 65
  • Women of any age who have factors that increase the chance of developing osteoporosis”.15

Prevention

How may osteoporosis be prevented?

The BHOF note:

“People used to think that osteoporosis was an inevitable part of aging. Today we know a lot more about how to prevent, detect, and treat the disease. You are never too young or old to take care of your bones. Good lifestyle habits can help you protect your bones and decrease your chance of getting osteoporosis. And, if your healthcare provider hasn’t talked to you about your bone health, it’s time for you to bring it up!”16

Risk Factors

How may we become aware of any potential risk factors?

In About Osteoporosis: Have Risk Factors? Talk To Your Doctor, Ask for Testing the IOF note:

“To become aware of any potential risk factors, take the IOF Osteoporosis Risk Check.

Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because one can’t feel bones weakening. Breaking a bone is often the first sign of osteoporosis or a patient may notice that he or she is getting shorter or their upper back is curving forward. If you are experiencing height loss or your spine is curving, be sure to consult your doctor or healthcare professional immediately”.17

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have osteoporosis?

If you think you have osteoporosis, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Exercise for Your Bone Health: A Complete Osteoporosis Program the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center explain:

“Remember, exercise is only one part of an osteoporosis prevention or treatment program. Like a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise helps strengthen bones at any age. But proper exercise and diet may not be enough to stop bone loss caused by medical conditions, menopause, or lifestyle choices such as tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption. It is important to speak with your doctor about your bone health. Discuss whether you might be a candidate for a bone mineral density test. If you are diagnosed with low bone mass, ask what medications might help keep your bones strong”.18

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Osteoporosis?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Osteoporosis?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. A Guide To Calcium Rich Foods
  2. About Osteoporosis
  3. Bone Basics
  4. Bone Density
  5. Bone Density Exam/Testing
  6. Bone Density Scan (DEXA Scan)
  7. Bone Density Test
  8. Bone Health
  9. Bone Health
  10. Bonehealth.org.au [Bone Health Foundation, Australia]
  11. Bonehealthandosteoporosis.org [Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, United States]
  12. #BoneMatters Q&A: Nutrition [30 August 2022]
  13. Bones, Joints and Muscles [Topics]
  14. Bonetalk.org [Bone Talk, United States]
  15. Calcium Content of Common Foods
  16. Calcium and Vitamin D
  17. Causes of Osteoporosis & Osteopenia
  18. Communication With Your Doctor and Healthcare Team
  19. Consumer Health: Osteoporosis and Exercise
  20. Consumer Health: Treating Osteoporosis
  21. D-pleted – The Vitamin Many of Us Are Low on
  22. Does Osteoporosis Run In Your Family?
  23. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  24. Exercise To Stay Healthy
  25. Exercise for Bones
  26. Exercise for Your Bone Health
  27. Exercising With Osteoporosis: Stay Active the Safe Way
  28. Fact Sheets
  29. Food for Healthy Bones
  30. Frequently Asked Questions
  31. General Facts – Bone Health Basics: Get the Facts [+ Video: Osteoporosis Is A Silent Killer]
  32. Get A Bone Density Test
  33. Get the Facts on Calcium and Vitamin D
  34. Health After Menopause: Bone Health & Osteoporosis
  35. Healthybonesaustralia.org.au [Healthy Bones, Australia]
  36. Housecall: What Can You Do To Keep Your Bones Healthy for A Lifetime?
  37. How To Prevent Osteoporosis After Menopause
  38. ‘If You Don’t Exercise, You Break’: Physical Activity Key In Osteoporosis Intervention [10 August 2022]
  39. Knowyourbones.org.au: “Check Your Bone Health Now!”
  40. Management of Osteoporosis In Postmenopausal Women: The 2021 Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  41. May Is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month #ExerciseToMaximise: Download the Digital Calendar
  42. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Osteoporosis and A Bone-Healthy Diet
  43. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Who Should Have A Bone Density Test?
  44. Medication and Treatment Adherence: The Hows and Whys of Osteoporosis Medications
  45. Menopause and Bone Loss
  46. Menopause: How Will It Affect My Health? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  47. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center [National Institutes of Health, United States]
  48. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Osteoarthritis In Depth
  49. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases [United States]: Bone Health
  50. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases [United States]: Osteoporosis
  51. National Osteoporosis Guideline Group: Contents of the Clinical Guideline: NOGG 2021 [United Kingdom]
  52. Nutrition: Food and Your Bones – Osteoporosis Nutrition Guidelines
  53. Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
  54. Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
  55. Osteopedia [Glossary of Terms]
  56. Osteopenia
  57. Osteoporosis
  58. Osteoporosis
  59. Osteoporosis
  60. Osteoporosis
  61. Osteoporosis
  62. Osteoporosis
  63. Osteoporosis
  64. Osteoporosis
  65. Osteoporosis Drugs: Which One Is Right for You?
  66. Osteoporosis Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  67. Osteoporosis Overview
  68. Osteoporosis Treatment
  69. Osteoporosis Treatment: Medications Can Help
  70. Osteoporosis – Multiply Languages
  71. Osteoporosis.Risk.Check.
  72. Osteoporosis.foundation [International Osteoporosis Foundation]
  73. Osteoporosis: Bone Health Following the Menopause
  74. Osteoporosis: How Long Must I Take Bisphosphonates?
  75. Overall Health: Emotional Aspects of Osteoporosis
  76. Overall Health: Managing Your Pain
  77. Prevent Broken Bones
  78. Preventing Osteoporosis: Questions for the Doctor
  79. Prevention
  80. Prevention and Healthy Living
  81. Signs & Symptoms of Osteoporosis
  82. Theros.org.uk [Royal Osteoporosis Society, United Kingdom]
  83. Treatment
  84. Treatment for Osteoporosis
  85. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: Bone Health and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
  86. Videos and Podcasts: World Menopause Day 2021 – Interviews: Bone Health
  87. Videos and Podcasts: World Menopause Day 2021 – Interviews: Bone Health What Why and How
  88. Vitamin D
  89. Webinars: Previous – Osteoporosis for Midlife Women and Beyond
  90. Webinars: Previous – Update on Bone Health
  91. What Breast Cancer Survivors Need To Know About Osteoporosis
  92. What Foods Should A Person With Osteoporosis Avoid?
  93. What Is Osteoporosis?
  94. What Is Osteoporosis and What Causes It? [+ Video: What is Osteoporosis?]
  95. What Is Osteoporosis?
  96. What Women Need To Know
  97. World Menopause Day 2021
    Osteoporosis
  98. World Menopause Day 2021– Patient Information Leaflet: Update on Bone Health [Multiply Languages]
  99. Worldosteoporosisday.org [World Osteoporosis Day, October 20]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Women Need To Know: Menopause: A Time for Action. Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/prevention/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  2. Osteopenia. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center https://www.bones.nih.gov/about/glossary/osteopenia Accessed: 17 October 2022
  3. About Osteoporosis. International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/about-osteoporosis Accessed: 17 October 2022
  4. What Women Need To Know. Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  5. What Women Need To Know: Menopause: A Time for Action. Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  6. Osteoporosis. Content Updated September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/622-osteoporosis Accessed: 17 October 2022
  7. Calcium: Recommended Daily Calcium Intake. Last Updated: 16 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 01 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bone-health/calcium/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  8. Calcium: Recommended Daily Calcium Intake. Last Updated: 16 January 2020  | Last Reviewed: 01 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bone-health/calcium/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  9. Epidemiology of Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures. International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/facts-statistics/epidemiology-of-osteoporosis-and-fragility-fractures Accessed: 17 October 2022
  10. What Is Osteoporosis and What Causes It? Osteoporosis Is Common. Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  11. Osteoporosis and Bone Health. Royal Osteoporosis Society https://theros.org.uk/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  12. What Women Need To Know. Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/prevention/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  13. About Osteoporosis. International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/about-osteoporosis Accessed: 17 October 2022
  14. What Is Osteoporosis and What Causes It? Osteoporosis Can Sneak Up on You. National Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  15. Osteoporosis Overview: Causes of Osteoporosis. Last Reviewed: October 2019. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis/overview Accessed: 17 October 2022
  16. What Women Need To Know: Now the Good News. Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.nof.org/prevention/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/ Accessed: 17 October 2022
  17. About Osteoporosis: Have Risk Factors? Talk To Your Doctor, Ask for Testing International Osteoporosis Foundation http://worldosteoporosisday.org/about-osteoporosis Accessed: 17 October 2022
  18. Exercise for Your Bone Health: A Complete Osteoporosis Program. Last Reviewed: October 2018. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center https://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/default.asp Accessed: 17 October 2022
Topic Last Updated: 17 October 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 17 October 2022

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