Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Prevention of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can be detrimental to your well-being, especially in your senior years. The disease progresses without any pain to the patient, and then unexpectedly you are suffering from a fractured bone because of a fall or slight injury. There are many ways to prevent the onset of osteoporosis and to treat it.

Definition

• Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become fragile and their likelihood of breaking is increased. The most common breaks of the osteoporosis-inflicted individual are hip, wrist and spine fractures. Fracturing a bone in the spine or any of the vertebrae can have dire consequences such as shrinking in height, deformities and severe back pain. Women are four times as likely to develop osteoporosis as men, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Prevention

• This most effective prevention for osteoporosis begins in childhood. Building strong bones, particularly before the age of 30, is vital for your bone health. Make sure you get plenty of calcium and vitamin D in your diet. If you are sensitive to dairy products, take calcium supplements daily. Many people are deficient in vitamin D and are not aware of it. Just getting outside in the sunlight for 15 minutes a day is all that is needed to ensure you get plenty of this vitamin. Participate daily in weight-bearing exercises such as walking. Avoid overindulging in alcohol and do not smoke. When you approach middle age, begin talking to your physician about bone health and learn when to schedule bone density testing. Your doctor will prescribe medications if needed.

Treatment

• The best primary treatment for osteoporosis is early prevention, beginning in childhood. As you enter adulthood, maintain a diet with a strong emphasis on calcium foods such as dairy products, broccoli, salmon, turnip and mustard greens, white and baked beans, and almonds. Vitamin D is not found naturally in many foods, but there is some in fish, beef liver, egg yolks and cheese. Look for vitamin D-enriched products such as cereals and orange juice. After the age of 50, it is important that you get at least 1,200 mg of calcium and 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

  The secondary treatment for osteoporosis is typically for women approaching menopause and it promotes bone strength and renewal. Bone is a living tissue and constantly forms new tissue while removing the old. Antiresorptive medications such as bisphosphonates, estrogen and estrogen agonists/antagonists, and calcitonin are necessary at this stage. Bone loss is prevented and therefore reduces risks of fractures.

  The tertiary or last stage of osteoporosis treatment is to take estrogen and hormone treatments. This approach is for women who are postmenopausal or anyone who has a severe risk for fractures. Your doctor may prescribe anabolic drugs at this time, which are the only drugs available now that actually rebuild bone tissue.

Considerations

• Taking your medications daily is of vital importance in the fight against osteoporosis. You cannot feel your bones mending or getting stronger, so therefore some people discontinue treatment. Always discuss with your doctor if you are having side effects or other difficulties with these medications. He can give you alternatives. Stopping medication by the doctor after a period is customary, and your physician will continue bone density testing on a regular basis to monitor your bone health.