Osteoporosis Fractures: More than Just Broken Bones

Osteoporosis fractures are of greater concern than typical fractures in a younger, healthy person. Osteoporosis is a devastating disease that affects 55% of women age 50 years and older. The disease itself is not fatal; however, the fractures and breaks it causes can leave a woman incapacitated, and resulting complications can lead to death.

The loss of mobility and independence is another factor that makes osteoporosis so dangerous. Victims in advanced stages of the disease are unable to perform the simplest tasks, either out of fear of injury or physical inability. From an emotional standpoint, it is heartbreaking for many women to become dependent on others for simple, day-to-day needs. For patients who suffer from hip fractures, recovery can take six months or longer, and being confined to bed because of osteoporosis fractures is frustrating and inconvenient - not to mention, potentially lethal.

Osteoporosis Fractures are Preventable

It is estimated that the lifetime risk of a woman sustaining osteoporosis fractures is about 50 percent, higher than breast cancer and coronary artery disease combined. Most of these fractures occur during falls. Victims of osteoporosis are more likely to fall than they were before they contracted the disease. Osteoporosis can impair the vision, cognitive ability, and posture stability, and therefore can significantly affect balance. A victim of osteoporosis can walk down the hall, have a momentary loss of balance and fall, breaking a hip.

Osteoporosis fractures can be prevented through a variety of means. Calcium and vitamin D supplements are an economical and effective way to restore a portion of the bone mass lost to the disease. Other medications can combat the effects osteoporosis has on the balance so that falls are less likely to occur. The patient’s home should be made as safe as possible, and the patient should avoid potentially dangerous situations. In extreme cases, the patient may need to be hospitalized.

Osteoporosis is a disease that all women should be aware of, and women should take precautions throughout life to prevent the development of this potentially crippling disease. Prevention, including high-calcium foods, daily supplements, and regular weight-bearing exercise, is far more effective than any other therapeutic means of mitigating the disease. If a woman contracts osteoporosis, she must be vigilant to avoid osteoporosis fractures, which can lead to a loss of independence and possibly death.