Myths and Facts About Osteoporosis

Dr. Christopher J. Riegel at The Riegel Center  understands that people with osteoporosis have a lot of questions about living with the disease and what risks that poses. He also evaluates his patients living in and around Plano, Texas, to determine if they’re at a high risk of developing osteoporosis in the future.

To dispel some of the common myths about osteoporosis, Dr. Riegel offers insight about what you can do to boost your health despite having the disease, and how you can prevent long-term health complications if you have risk factors for osteoporosis.

Understanding osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that describes progressive bone loss. Normally, bone continuously breaks down and your body produces new, healthy bone to replace it.

With osteoporosis, your body isn’t able to keep up with the replacement of bone as it breaks down. This typically occurs because of age-related changes your body goes through as you get older. Osteoporosis is especially common in women who have reached their postmenopausal years due to the loss of estrogen, a hormone that contributes to healthy bone production.

When you have osteoporosis, your old bone breaks down, but new bone isn’t forming fast enough. This makes your bones weak, brittle, and more susceptible to breaks and fractures. You’re more likely to begin losing height and develop noticeable changes in your posture. Chronic pain is also a common side effect of advanced osteoporosis.

Common osteoporosis myths debunked

Here are some of the most common misconceptions – and truths – about osteoporosis:

Every elderly person gets osteoporosis

While it’s true that your risk for osteoporosis increases as you get older, there are things you should be doing at every stage of life to reduce your risk for premature bone loss.

You achieve maximum bone mass in your late teens and early 20s. While many young people aren’t always thinking about the distant future, the earlier you start protecting your bone health, the better.

By incorporating sufficient amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and exercise into your life, starting while you’re young, you can keep your bones strong and healthy and avoid ending up with osteoporosis when you’re older.

Don’t rely solely on supplements

Many people rely on supplements to get bone-healthy nutrients, like calcium and vitamin D. However, staying proactive about osteoporosis prevention involves eating a healthy diet balanced with good amounts of calcium and other nutrients.

Make it a point to discuss your regular diet with Dr. Riegel. He can determine how much calcium and vitamin D you should be getting in your diet and how much you need to get through supplementation.

I’m fine because I don’t have symptoms

Osteoporosis actually begins developing many years in advance of symptoms. When you suffer a bone fracture or break due to osteoporosis, the disease has already weakened your bones.  You also have already begun losing a significant amount of your bone mass.

Dr. Riegel creates a personalized bioidentical hormone formula for your specific needs. He prescribes his own proprietary treatment plans for every patient, using formulas exclusive to The Riegel Center.

Broken bones are the biggest concern

While bone fractures are one of the most common complications of osteoporosis, the disease can progress enough to prove fatal. When weak and brittle bones result in a hip fracture, recovery isn’t guaranteed.

This is often due to complications that result from a hip replacement surgery, such as side effects of anesthesia, heart arrhythmias, and serious infections. People with existing health conditions may not even be a candidate for a hip replacement, resulting in chronic, debilitating pain and disability.

It’s too late for preventive measures

The reality is, it’s never too late to start taking steps to improve bone health. In addition to incorporating a healthy diet and exercise into your life to rebuild bone strength, you should also quit smoking and limit your use of alcohol.

If you have a family history of osteoporosis, speak with Dr. Riegel about your options for treatment. He offers comprehensive services for osteoporosis.

To schedule a consultation to discuss your osteoporosis risk factors, contact The Riegel Center today by phone or by requesting an appointment online now.