Tanya Sklierenko (Markland Wood Pharmacy), for NP-UN, Toronto.
Osteoporosis is a health condition where bones become weak and fragile. Our bones are constantly remodeling, old bone is replaced with new stronger bone. However, after the age of 30 more bone is taken away than new bone is made. This results in bones becoming weak and prone to fractures (in particular the wrist, spine, hip, and shoulder).
Osteopenia is a condition where the bones start becoming weak but not as bad as in osteoporosis. Not to be confused with osteoarthritis (disease of the joints and surrounding tissue), osteoporosis can occur without any symptoms. Some people may experience pain with osteoporosis when they develop fractures in their bones.
Osteoporosis occurs more often in women than men and increases if women have gone through menopause. Other factors that can increase the risk of osteoporosis include: smoking, being underweight, use of high-risk medications (such as corticosteroids) or certain medical conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Bone health can be improved through regular weight bearing exercise (example: walking), stopping smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol (more than 2 drinks a day) and caffeine (more than 4 cups of coffee per day or equivalent).
Vitamin D and calcium help preserve bone health and may help prevent fractures. For those under the age of 50, 1000 mg of calcium a day is recommended and for those over the age of 50, 1200 mg a day is recommended. It is preferred to get most of the daily calcium requirements from diet such as from milk (1 cup = 300 mg of calcium) or from yogurt (3/4 cup = 332 mg of calcium). For more information on calcium content in common foods visit www.osteoporosis.ca. Osteoporosis Canada recommends 800–2000 IU vitamin D per day for individuals above the age of 50 and at risk for osteoporosis.
For more information on preventing osteoporosis, speak to one of our pharmacists at Markland Wood Pharmacy.
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