Osteoporosis & Crohn's Disease

According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, low bone density often presents as a frequent complication of Crohn's disease. This low-bone density can result in osteoporosis.

Features

• A chronic medical condition, Crohn's disease causes the digestive tract to become inflamed and swollen. On the other hand, Osteoporosis causes bones to lose their mass so that they become fragile and prone to fractures.

Identification

• Commonly called the "silent disease," Osteoporosis can become serious before symptoms occur. People with Crohn's disease should get regular bone-density screenings to detect the condition early.

Time frame

• Bone density typically declines with age. As a result, osteoporosis commonly occurs in older people. However, in people with Crohn's disease, osteoporosis can occur in people in their twenties and thirties. Most people of this age have peak bone density. When bone loss occurs this early in life, it means it can become very serious as a Crohn's patient gets older.

Risk Factor

• To reduce irritation of the digestive tract, treatments for Crohn's disease include anti-inflammatory medicines, such as corticosteroids. Unfortunately bone loss commonly presents as a undesirable side effect of these medications.

Prevention

• To combat bone loss from taking anti-inflammatory medication, people with Crohn's disease should follow common prevention recommendations. These include getting adequate calcium and vitamin D, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding smoking. Other important preventative activities include getting regular weight-bearing exercise, like running, lifting weights, and walking to strengthen bones.