Osteoporosis Treatment with Medications, Symptoms & Causes Explained.

You can help a loved one with osteoporosis by supporting them in the treatment and lifestyle changes and preventing falls and fractures.

Let’s understand more about it.

Table of Contents

How To Care For Someone Suffering From Osteoporosis and Its Symptoms?

Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones lose minerals such as calcium, becoming less dense and breaking more easily. As the condition doesn’t have indicative symptoms, most people realize they have osteoporosis only when they get a fracture.

What Does Osteoporosis Look Like?

Osteoporosis is a condition with porous bones. A healthy bone has small pores. But osteoporosis increases the size of these spaces, making them less dense. The bone becomes thinner and weaker.

While it can occur at any age, it is prevalent in older women. People with osteoporosis are at a high risk of bone breaks or fracture while doing routine work such as walking or standing. Bones that are affected the most include:

Hips
Ribs
Spine
Wrists

Osteoporosis Causes And Symptoms

Osteoporosis is a silent condition without any symptoms, especially in the early stages. Most people come to know about the condition until they get a fracture.

If symptoms are present, they include:

Weakened grip strength
Receding gums
Brittle and weak nails

Symptoms of severe osteoporosis include a fracture, even from a strong cough or sneeze. It may also cause neck or back pain. There may be a loss of height because of compression fracture on the neck or back.

If a fracture occurs, the duration of healing depends on various factors, including age and health condition.

Osteoporosis Causes

Some common causes and risk factors for osteoporosis include:

Certain medicines such as cortisone
Medical conditions such as thyroid disorders
Above 40 years of age
Menopause
Being female
Poor nutrition
A family history of osteoporosis
Smoking
Small-boned frame
Physical inactivity
Low body weight

ALSO READ Treating Osteoporosis With Calcium. Does it work? Causes & Symptoms Explained

How Can You Help a Love One with Osteoporosis?

In addition to the lifestyle factors (mentioned below), preventing falls is the major help you can offer to your loved one, as it is one of the common causes of broken bones.

You can take some actions at home to prevent falls, such as:

Moving furniture with sharp ends
Removing hazards such as doorstops, rugs, and wires
Encouraging regular hearing and sight tests
Placing anti-slip mats on the shower and bath floor.
Attending appointments with them
Making sure they take their medicines and supplements regularly
Learning about their condition and

Follow a healthy lifestyle with them:

Stop smoking
Cutting down on alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods
Having a balanced diet including foods rich in zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K.

Osteoporosis Diagnosis, Treatment, And Medication

The doctor will run a physical check to gauge the strength of muscles and bones. They may also advise certain tests to confirm the diagnosis, including:

Bone density test (bone densitometry): The test involves X-rays to measure the density of the wrists, spine, or hips. It is a painless test and takes only 10 to 30 minutes.
X-rays