Osteoporosis

Signs of osteoporosis include:

• Back pain
• Gradually getting shorter
• Posture that is stooped or curved
• Weakened bones

If you are experiencing back pain, notice a change in your posture, or have sustained a bone fracture more easily than anticipated you may want to talk to your provider about osteoporosis.

Major risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• Age. Your risk increases as you get older.
• Sex and ethnic background. Almost 80% of osteoporosis patients are women, and Caucasian (white) and Asian people have the highest risk.
• Family and personal history. Your risk increases if any family members have osteoporosis or a history of broken bones, or if you have broken any bones in the past.
• Nutrition. A major risk factor is a diet low in calcium or vitamin D. Heavy alcohol use (more than 7 drinks per week) increases the risk.
• Lifestyle. Smoking and being inactive are risk factors.
• Some medical procedures. Your risk is higher if you’ve had a gastric bypass, removal of all or part of the stomach, or removal of part of the esophagus and stomach.

To diagnose osteoporosis your provider will evaluate your bone density using a machine similar to an X-ray.

Osteoporosis cannot be reversed; however, your provider can recommend a treatment plan to manage your pain.

• Bisphosphonates and other medications
• Hormone therapy
• Physical therapy to reduce risk of falling

There are treatments for osteoporosis, but there is no cure. The good news is that for most people, osteoporosis can be prevented through an active lifestyle and a healthy diet. A diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K can help preserve your bones and make them stronger. Bones use calcium for their strength and structure. Vitamins D and K help your body absorb and store calcium.

How do I get enough calcium?

Keep these basic principles in mind:

• Food is the best calcium source. Good choices include milk and low-fat dairy products.
• You need calcium throughout the day. Your body can use only 500 mg of calcium at a time. Eat calcium rich foods or take supplements throughout the day, rather than all at once.
• Don’t forget fruits and veggies. Dark green vegetables give you calcium and vitamin K. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can also help you keep more bone mass.
• Go easy on the salt and caffeine. Too much salt or caffeine can make your body get rid of calcium. Take the salt shaker off the table and avoid processed foods, which are often high in salt. Aim for less than 400 mg of caffeine per day — that’s about 2 ½ 10-ounce cups of coffee.
• Limit soft drinks. Soft drinks contain high amounts of phosphorous, which can cause calcium to be taken out of your bones. And if you regularly have soft drinks instead of milk, this drastically reduces the calcium in your diet.
• Use nutrition labels. Labels will help you keep track of the amount of the calcium and vitamin D you’re getting each day. But reading labels can be tricky. See below for a few tips.
• Use supplements wisely. If you can’t get enough calcium in your diet, a calcium supplement can help you reach your calcium goals.
• Not all soy foods are a source of calcium. Also, the calcium in soy milk is not absorbed as quickly as the calcium in cow’s milk. To replace the calcium in 3 glasses of cow’s milk, you would need to drink 4 glasses of soy milk.

What if I don't like milk?

Dairy is a primary source of calcium. If you don’t like the taste of milk, try these tips:

• Use milk to make hot cocoa, hot cereals, and soups. Add powdered milk to foods such as casseroles, breads or muffins, puddings, or gravy.
• Use cottage cheese or plain yogurt on baked potatoes or in salad dressings. Use vanilla yogurt for fruit salad.
• If you drink coffee, add milk to it (remember, don’t overdo the caffeine).
• Try flavored milk. Chocolate milk has only 60 more calories than regular milk.
• For dessert, choose pudding, frozen yogurt, and yogurt. For a snack, try 8 to 12 ounces of a smoothie made with milk.

What if I have lactose intolerance?

If you have mild lactose intolerance (problems digesting milk and milk products), try these tips:

• Start slowly. First eat small portions of dairy and then try to increase the amount.
• Eat dairy with other foods. Have dairy products with other foods in a meal or snack.
• Try non-milk dairy foods. Foods like Swiss cheese, Parmesan cheese, or cheddar cheese contain less lactose. Yogurt is another good choice.
• Try Lactaid supplements or Lactaid-treated dairy products.

Osteoporosis is a common disease that weakens your bones and makes them brittle. An estimated 10 million people have osteoporosis and another 34 million have low bone mass, placing them at risk for this disease. Osteoporosis can cause pain and disability. More importantly, it greatly increases your risk of fractures (broken bones) that can cause serious health problems and even death.

Osteoporosis is often associated with not consuming enough calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K (which are found in milk). However other factors include age, gender, medical and family history, and lifestyle. Changing your diet to include more milk and other calcium-rich foods, as well as limiting your smoking and alcohol intake, can help to prevent and manage osteoporosis.