Osteoporosis Diagnosis and Treatment in Sydney
Osteoporosis is an extremely common disorder in which the bones are not as strong as they should be and thus more likely to fracture. Over a million Australians are affected by osteoporosis, with millions more at risk of getting the disease. Osteoporosis disproportionately affects more women than men, and usually affects adults over the age of 50, as bone density naturally deteriorates with advancing age.
Osteoporosis is a serious matter, as statistics show that half of people with one fracture from the condition will suffer another. Breaking a bone — particularly later in life — has devastating consequences, causing severe pain and impeding the ability to move around and enjoy physical activities and exercise. In the most serious cases, the effects of breaking a bone can lead to mental health problems, such as isolation, depression or anxiety.
Fortunately, qualified healthcare providers like Dr Jai Sungaran of Southern Hand and Wrist can help prevent or treat osteoporosis. When you are equipped with the right information and resources, you can lower your chances of breaking a bone.
What Causes Osteoporosis?
If you were to look at a normal, healthy bone under a microscope, you would notice the bone has a honeycomb-like structure. With osteoporosis, the spaces in the honeycomb are larger and the “branches” are thinner than normal or missing altogether. Doctors often refer to this as “low density bones,” but it essentially means the bones are brittle and thinning.
Osteoporosis happens because the bones lose minerals like calcium, that keep them hard and strong, faster than the body can naturally replace them.
Women are more likely to get osteoporosis because they generally have smaller bones than men. Also, their levels of oestrogen, a hormone that helps protect the bones, rapidly decline during menopause.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is characterized as a “silent disease,” because it does not change how someone looks or feels, or how they behave. In fact, there are often no overt symptoms at all. Many people with osteoporosis in Sydney and the surrounding areas discover they have a problem only after breaking a bone. Bones may break during a fall or, in serious cases, after simply sneezing or tripping over something.
Often the only early warning signs of osteoporosis are height loss, severe and unexplained back pain and a curvature of the upper spine. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see Dr Sungaran for evaluation.
How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
Dr Sungaran diagnosis osteoporosis by taking a complete medical history and performing a physical examination. He may order X-rays to look at your bones for any fractures and send you for blood tests to get a more complete picture of your health.
A bone density test is also used in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. This quick, non-invasive test looks at the density of the bones of the hip and spine, which are most commonly affected by osteoporosis. The density of your bones is then compared to the average bone density of young healthy adults. Based on your results, Dr Sungaran will recommend the best way to manage your bone health.
How Is Osteoporosis Treated in Sydney?
Osteoporosis care is centered around promoting bone health and lowering the chances of a bone fracture. Strategies may include taking prescribed osteoporosis medication, getting enough calcium and vitamin D through diet or supplementation and exercising regularly to promote bone health.
If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or have a high risk of bone fracture, Dr Sungaran can help. Together, the two of you will formulate a plan to manage your condition and support your bone health. Contact us today to request a consultation with Dr Sungaran.
