Summary on osteoporosis
Osteoporosis literally means porous bones. It is a condition in which bone tissue is reduced. This leads to an increased risk of fracture, usually of the spine, hip or wrist.
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Causes of osteoporosis in women
When menopause occurs, the rate of bone loss accelerates and is particularly fast in the first ten years after menopause.
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Causes of osteoporosis in men
As there is no male andropause with accelerated bone loss, men who present with osteoporosis are more likely to have an underlying cause for excessive bone loss than women. |
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Osteoporosis risk factors for women
Assessment of risk factors is important since this can help your doctor decide how to treat you. |
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Osteoporosis risk factors for men
Several factors are associated with age-related osteoporosis in men. |
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Symptoms of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a ‘silent’ or asymptomatic disease until complicated by fracture.
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Diagnosing osteoporosis
Since a low bone mass is the most important risk factor for future fractures, its measurement as bone mineral density forms the practical basis for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. |
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Having your bone mass measured
In South Africa, unselected screening for all women would not be cost-effective. But there are guidelines used to decide when a woman should have a bone mass measurement. |
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Preventing post-menopausal osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is no longer regarded as an inevitable part of normal ageing but as a preventable and treatable disease. |
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Preventing osteoporosis in men
There are certain lifestyle and diet adaptations that can be made that will lead to a significant reduction in the severity and prevalence of osteoporosis in men. |
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The outcome of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a serious disease and osteoporotic fractures can have serious consequences. |
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When to call your doctor
If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, pay a visit to your doctor to check your bone mineral density. |
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Osteoporosis - the basics
How much do you know about the basics of osteoporosis? A press release from MediClinic gives it to you in a nutshell. |
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Fast facts about osteoporosis
Here are some fast osteoporosis facts from our expert. |
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Who is at risk for osteoporosis?
There are many factors that can put you at high risk for osteoporosis. Both men and women are at risk, though this disease is mostly associated with older women. |
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How osteoporosis is diagnosed
Osteoporosis is a silent disease with no symptoms until a fracture occurs- to wait for symptoms is therefore too late. What can be done to predict future fractures? |
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How osteoporosis can be prevented
Preventive measures aim to ensure maximum accumulation of bone tissue during skeletal growth and maturation as well as reducing bone loss after the skeleton matures. |
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More on osteoporosis and HRT
HRT is used to replace those hormones which decline during the menopause. |
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Treating osteoporosis
There are many treatment options available to reduce bone loss. Many of these potent drugs are capable of reducing the rate of osteoporotic fractures by 50% or more. |
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Who is at risk of osteoporosis?
Find out whether you are at risk of getting osteoporosis. |
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Know your risk for osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a silent disease with no symptoms until a fracture occurs- to wait for symptoms is therefore too late. What can be done to predict future fractures?
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Preventing osteoporosis for all
Preventive measures aim to ensure maximum accumulation of bone tissue during skeletal growth and maturation as well as reducing bone loss after the skeleton matures. |
