Osteoporosis isn't called the silent thief for nothing. Unfortunately, unless
you or your doctor have any reason to suspect that your bones may be thinning,
there's no way of telling that it's happening until the damage has been done.
By being aware of certain risk factors, however, doctors can monitor high-risk
groups. For example, if you are taking high doses of corticosteroids, your doctor
may suggest that you undergo bone mineral density testing to check out the strength
of your bones before something happens. A "baseline" test, one that's
done before bone loss is suspected for comparison with later tests, makes it
easier for your doctor to monitor your bone health.
The tests for osteoporosis are painless and non-invasive. Dual
energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DXA, is the most common because it can
measure both the hip and spine density, the areas where osteoporosis-related
fractures are most frequent. As you lie on a table, a machine scans you and
calculates how much of the X-ray beam passes through you. Although the thought
of having an X-ray beam going through your body might seem frightening, the
amount of radiation that's used is even less than what you would be exposed
to during a chest X-ray.
Some institutions may do a single photon absorptiometry, or SPA,
but this can only tell the density of the bones in the forearm or heel. There
are other types of scans as well, but they aren't used as frequently.
If you're told you have osteoporosis or are at risk of developing it, your
doctor may recommend one or more of the following medications:
- calcium and vitamin D supplements
- alendronate, etidronate, or risedronate, which belong the family of medications
known as bisphosphonates
- calcitonin
- raloxifene
- teriperatide
Which kind of therapy you'll be offered will depend on whether you are a man
or a woman, if you are a pre- or postmenopausal woman, and the extent of the
bone loss. If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause as well as osteoporosis,
your doctor may also offer you the treatment option of estrogen therapy, which
can treat osteoporosis and menopause symptoms. Be sure to discuss your personal
risks and benefits of estrogen therapy with your doctor before making a decision
on treatment.
It's important you understand how to take your medications, and that most medications
require long-term use - usually several years. If you have any questions, consult
your doctor or pharmacist.