Watch Out

Try to exercise at least three times a week for a minimum of 20 minutes but most importantly choose exercise that you enjoy and stick to a regular routine. If you are a smoker - try to give up. Smoking has a toxic effect on bone in men and women. Drinking too much alcohol is damaging to bones so limit your alcohol intake to a maximum of 3-4 units per day for men and 2-3 units for women. These limits are not targets to drink up to and having alcohol-free days is a good idea.

The good news is that a moderate intake of one or two glasses of red wine a day may have beneficial effects on the skeleton as well as on the heart.

How do you treat osteoporosis?

Many people think that broken bones due to osteoporosis are an inevitable part of getting old. While there is currently no cure for the disease, there are treatments that can strengthen existing bone which will reduce your risk of experiencing a fracture.

The treatment of osteoporosis depends on a number of factors including age, sex, medical history and which bones are broken. These treatments include bisphosphonates, which are non-hormonal drugs which help maintain bone strength and reduce fracture rates.

There is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - an oestrogen replacement for women at the menopause, which helps maintain bone strength and reduces fracture rates for the duration of therapy.

Another treatment is Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) which are drugs which act in a similar way to oestrogen on the bone, helping to maintain bone strength and reduce fracture rates specifically in the spine.

Testosterone therapy is a testosterone replacement for men with low testosterone levels to help maintain bone strength.

In addition Calcium and vitamin D supplements of calcium and vitamin D can be of benefit for older people to reduce the risk of breaking a hip.

How do you test for osteoporosis?

A normal x-ray of bone cannot reliably measure bone density but is useful to identify spinal fractures, explain back pain, height loss or curvature of the spine.

A bone density scan, called a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan, is used to measure the density of bones and compare this to a normal range. This test is currently the most accurate and reliable means of assessing the strength of your bones and your risk of fracture. It is a simple, painless procedure that uses very low doses of radiation. You will be asked to lie down on the machine for 10-15 minutes while an x-ray arm passes over you to take an image of your spine and hip. Some centres may have machines which measure the density of the wrist or heel. A bone density scan can diagnose osteoporosis, assess risk of fracture and monitor the effects of treatment.

Bone density scans are only recommended for people who are at high risk of osteoporosis, so you should discuss your medical history with your doctor, who will decide whether to refer you to hospital for a scan. The doctor may use the results to help with decisions about treatment, or you may be asked to see a specialist consultant. In some areas of the UK, access to bone density scans is very limited, so your doctor may go ahead and prescribe treatment without a scan if a fracture has been identified by x-ray, or if the doctor decides there is sufficient risk of osteoporosis (such as an early menopause).

What else can people do?

For more information and support, the National Osteoporosis Society can be contacted on 0845 450 0230 or visit the website at www.nos.org.uk.

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