Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens a person's bones, making them less dense and more fragile. It's potentially a serious diseas that can lead to disability.
Despite the threat it poses, there are a lot of misconceptions about osteoporosis. Take this quiz on the basics of osteoporosis to see how well-informed you are about the disease, and its symptoms and treatments.
In which age bracket does bone density peak and the rate of bone loss begin to exceed the rate of bone formation?
30s.
After age 30, bone resorption slowly begins to exceed bone formation. If this happens too quickly, you could get osteoporosis.
Which of these activities could cause a bone fracture in osteoporosis sufferers?
All of the above.
It's scary, but true. Something as harmless as coughing can cause a rib fracture, but the most common cause of fractures is a fall. The most common sites for fractures are the back, wrist, and hip.
Osteoporosis is the cause of 1.5 million fractures each year, including more than 300,000 hip fractures. Hip fractures may put an end to independent living for as many as one in four people.
What percentage of Caucasian women age 50 and older experience at least one fracture from brittle bones?
50 percent.
Caucasian and Asian women are most at risk for osteoporosis. African-American and Latino women have a lower but still significant risk.
Beginning at which age do men experience bone loss at the same rate as women?
65.
men don't have the equivalent of menopause, but they do experience hormonal change as they age. By age 65 or 70, men and women are losing bone at the same rate.
Men have only a fourth as many hip fractures as women, but men over age 75 are three times more likely to die after a hip fracture than women.
Which of these contributes to the onset of osteoporosis?
Your family history and your lifestyle both affect your risk for osteoporosis.
Which test is used to screen for osteoporosis?
A special type of X-ray.
Specifically, it's called a DEXA-scan (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). A DEXA-scan is done on the whole body and is a painless, low-dose X-ray.
What causes the "dowager's hump," the characteristic stooped posture?
Compressed vertebrae.
Spinal compressions can happen with little or no pain, but as they build up the spine becomes more and more distorted, leading to the common "dowager's hump" shape.
Which kind of exercise can help prevent osteoporosis?
A. swimming
B. running
C. strength training
B and C.
Weight-bearing exercises like running and strength training build density. Other examples include walking, playing tennis, jogging, and dancing.
Which of the following is a good preventative measure for osteoporosis?
A. eat a low-fat diet
B. exercise each day
C. get adequate calcium and vitamin D throughout your lifetime
A diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing exercise are the best ways to prevent weakened bones in later life.
How is osteoporosis treated?
Medication.
Treatment of osteoporosis aims to stop bone loss and rebuild bone. Along with making lifestyle changes, there are several medications available, including: estrogen, raloxifene, alendronate, risedronate, and calcitonin.
