Osteoporosis - Revive Hormone Institute

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. This leads to an increased risk of bone fractures, especially in the hip, spine and wrist.

Some key things to know about osteoporosis:

• It often develops without symptoms or pain until a fracture occurs. This is why it's called a "silent disease."
• It affects both men and women, but women are at higher risk due to the drop in estrogen levels that occurs after menopause.
• Major risk factors include family history, smoking, low calcium intake, and lack of exercise. As we age, bone density naturally decreases.

Osteoporosis develops when bone resorption occurs too quickly or replacement too slowly. Under normal conditions, old bone is constantly being resorbed and replaced by new bone tissue. But with osteoporosis, this turnover process is disrupted.

Over time, the composition and architecture of bone tissue weakens. The skeleton becomes porous and fragile, leading to an increased susceptibility to fractures. Even a minor fall or bump can then result in a broken bone.

If you're concerned about osteoporosis risk, getting a bone mineral density test is important. My friends at Revive Hormone Institute provide this simple screening to detect low bone mass before problems occur. If needed, they can also advise on prescription medications that help rebuild bone and prevent future bone loss. Catching issues early makes a big difference!

Let me know if you have any other questions about osteoporosis. As a complex disease, there's a lot more that could be said about causes, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment options. The key is being proactive about bone health throughout life - it's never too late to take steps to strengthen your skeleton!