Osteoporosis, or low bone density, affects more than 10 million people in the United States; around 80 percent are women and most are over age 50, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). Osteoporosis carries significant health risks and can lead to disability, lost work time, decreased quality of life, prolonged hospitalization and even death from complications related to fractures. Weight bearing exercise and medications that help rebuild bone, such as bisphosphonates, calcium and vitamin D decrease the risk of complications from osteoporosis.
Fractures
The most obvious risk of osteoporosis is the risk of fracture. NOF statistics state that in 2005, 547,000 fractures of the vertebrae in the spine, 397,000 wrist fractures, 297,000 hip fractures and 197,000 pelvic fractures were attributed to osteoporosis. Their statistics also show that 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over age 50 will fracture a bone because of osteoporosis sometime in their lifetime. Medications, weight-bearing exercise and making the home as easy to navigate and as safe as possible. The home should have no throw rugs or small, easy-to-trip-over objects around, and bathtub handrails and non-skid mats in the tub to decrease the chance of fracture.
Pain
Vertebral fractures are also known as compression fractures; they can cause acute pain right after they occur or chronic pain related to the collapse of the vertebrae and pressure being put on nearby organs. Pain and pressure on the stomach can lead to less food intake and less activity, which in turn exacerbates osteoporosis, according to an article published in 2004 in "American Family Physician" by lead author Jerry Old, M.D. Anti-inflammatory medication helps decrease pain. Severe pain from vertebral fractures is treated with kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty, procedures which inject cement to stabilize the collapsed vertebrae.
Decreased Mobility
Osteoporotic fractures can greatly decrease a person's ability to move unaided and care for herself. The NOF says that six months after a hip fracture, only 15 percent of people can walk across a room without help. People with hip fractures are also four times more likely to have another hip fracture. Physical therapy, medications to rebuild bone and activity within the limits of the patient help people stay mobile as long as possible.
Death
According to the NOF, 24 percent of people over age 50 who sustain a hip fracture die within the year. This is generally due to complications of hip fracture such as hospital acquired infection, blood clots and pneumonia from immobility, and infection. Vertebral fractures are also associated with increased mortality, Old states. Causes of death from vertebral fractures include pneumonia from the inability to take deep breaths due to crowded lungs, deep vein thrombosis and blood clots from inactivity and bowel obstruction from pressure on the bowels. Treating fractures to help people move as soon as possible, and doing muscle strengthening exercises both help decrease the mortality rate from osteoporosis.
