Osteoporosis Specialist

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes your bones to be weak and brittle and more susceptible to fractures. Throughout your life, your bone tissue is under constant construction, with old bone cells being broken down and replaced by new bone cells. You may be at risk of osteoporosis when the building of new bone can’t keep up with the breakdown of your old bone.

As you get older, bone construction slows down, which means your risk of osteoporosis increases. A decrease in hormone levels, both testosterone, and estrogen, also affects bone turnover and increases your risk of osteoporosis with age. While osteoporosis affects both men and women, it’s significantly more common in women.

Osteoporosis is preventable. If you have concerns about your bone health, the experts at Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC can help.

Does osteoporosis cause symptoms?

In the early stages of bone loss, you may not experience any symptoms to indicate you have osteoporosis. But as the disease progresses, you may have symptoms such as:

• Height loss
• Back pain
• Stooped posture

Broken bones are also a potential sign of osteoporosis, especially in older adults.

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

The experienced team at Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC offer dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to diagnose osteoporosis. This simple, quick, and safe diagnostic test measures the bone density in your hip, wrist, and spine. Based on the information provided by your DXA scan, your specialist can determine if you have osteoporosis or if you’re at risk of developing it.

What treatments are available for osteoporosis?

Depending on the results of your DXA scan, your specialist at Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC creates a personalized treatment to improve bone health. If you’re not at high-risk of a bone fracture within 10 years of your scan, your rheumatologist may recommend diet and lifestyle changes to improve bone health.

However, if your bones are weak and fractures are a concern, your rheumatologist may prescribe bisphosphonates, which can help prevent further bone loss.

Lifestyle changes that reduce your risk of falls, such as wearing shoes with low heels and making changes to your home to limit tripping, may also be recommended.

Osteoporosis affects both men and women. For the management of your bone health from a team of compassionate providers, call Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC or schedule an appointment online today.