Health Article: What is Osteopenia?
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© Goeller This article is not for reprint without
written permission from the author.
Osteopenia
is considered the first step along the road to osteoporosis, a serious condition
in which bone density is extremely low. Osteopenia, if not treated, may result
in osteoporosis. Osteopenia encompasses a wide range of fracture risks including
age, bone mineral density, and clinical risk factors. Osteopenia, the milder
bone-loss disease, is less well known but affects an estimated eighteen million
young and middle-aged women, including those in their late teens and early
twenties.
Some people who have Osteopenia may not have bone loss, but
they may naturally have a lower bone density. It is diagnosed with a bone
mineral density (BMD) test, usually done to see whether a person has
osteoporosis. The score on a BMD test for Osteopenia is between -1 and -2.5 of
young adult mean. (Osteoporosis is defined by a score below -2.5 of young adult
mean.) A standard X-ray is not useful in diagnosing Osteopenia because it
is not sensitive enough to detect small amounts of bone loss or minor changes in
bone density. Bones do not reach their greatest density until about 30 years of
age. For children and people younger than 30, anything that helps increase bone
density will have positive long-term benefits. A balanced diet and regular
exercise will help slow the loss of bone density, delay Osteopenia, and delay or
prevent osteoporosis.
Women are far more likely to develop Osteopenia and
osteoporosis than men because they lose bone mass sooner and faster. Women who
diet excessively to maintain a low body weight often eliminate dairy products
from their diet. This puts them at an increased risk of bone loss because they
may lose their primary source of calcium, a vital source of bone strength. Women
should eat a healthy diet, maintain a sturdy weight, exercise, and avoid
smoking. Low bone mass appears in about 50 percent of women in their 50's and
more than 85 percent of women in their 70's. Approximately 90 percent of women
over the age of seventy-five have experienced a bone fracture. Osteopenia
affects an estimated eighteen million young and middle age women. That includes
women in their late teens and early twenties. It is imperative that we teach our
young girls that they must eat healthy and include foods that are high in
calcium in their diet.
To maintain good bone health you should eat a balanced diet
that includes adequate calcium and vitamin D, using supplements when necessary.
You should also engage in regular physical activity, refrain from smoking, and
avoid heavy alcohol use. While most doctors would recommend medication for women
with osteoporosis to prevent fracture, doctors argue about whether medications
are necessary for women with Osteopenia, the less severe form of bone density
loss.
Calcium is the most critical mineral for bone mass. It is a
vital source of bone strength. Women who eliminate dairy products from their
diet, lose their primary source of calcium. That could contribute to low bone
density. In addition, diuretics, antacids, chemotherapy, hormone therapy for
cancer, lithium, and some medications for seizures can also deplete the bones of
calcium. Skeletal mass is the highest in your 30s and depends on diet (calcium
and vitamin D), physical activity, and genetics. It is important to consume
enough calcium and vitamin D throughout your life, in order to achieve maximal
peak bone density in early and middle years and to maintain bone in later years.
For most adults, a daily intake between 1200 and 1500 mg of calcium and 400-800
IU of Vitamin D is both safe and effective. Vitamin D helps your body absorb
calcium and other minerals. It is added to milk and can be taken in calcium and
vitamin supplements. Magnesium is also imperative for bone health. It works to
keep the calcium in your bones and out of your soft tissues.
Osteopenia and Osteoporosis are not always problems of
insufficient calcium intake, but rather of incorrect calcium utilization.
Osteopenia may be the result of a wide variety of other conditions, disease
processes, or treatments. In addition, diuretics, antacids, chemotherapy,
hormone therapy for cancer, lithium, and some medications for seizures can
deplete the bones of calcium. There are usually no symptoms with Osteopenia and
the disease can go undiagnosed until a fracture occurs.
Treatment options for Osteopenia are often the same methods
used for treating osteoporosis. Treatment depends on age and risk factors, but
it often includes calcium and vitamin D supplementation along with a program of
weight-bearing exercises. For some people medication is prescribed. Treatment is
strongly recommended to stop further bone loss and minimize the risk of
fractures.
Osteopenia usually occurs gradually over the course of many
years. It is the term used for bones that have become less dense than normal.
Osteopenia occurs either when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too
much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or when both occur. Remember to do
everything you can to prevent Osteopenia and osteoporosis because both can lead
to fractures.
For a free exercise routine you can visit our
Fitness E-Books page.
By Karen
Goeller, CSCS
.
