Bone Health
Arthritis
Many people start to feel pain and stiffness in their bodies over time.
Hands, knees or shoulders get sore, hard to move and may become swollen.
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms
are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Joints
are places where two bones meet.
There is more than one type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage
— the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where
they form a joint — to break down.
The main goal of osteoarthritis treatment is to reduce symptoms and improve
quality of life. Only a doctor can tell if you have arthritis or a related
condition and what to do about it. It’s true that arthritis can
be painful, but your doctor will guide you in feeling better.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens the bones to the point
that they become fragile and break easily. Throughout our lives, the body
breaks down old bone and replaces it with new bone. But as people age,
more bone is broken down than is replaced. Although osteoporosis can strike
at any age, it is most common among older people, especially older women.
The inside of a bone normally looks like a honeycomb, but when a person
has osteoporosis, the spaces inside this honeycomb become larger, reflecting
the loss of bone density and strength. The word "osteoporosis"
means "porous bone."
Women and men with osteoporosis most often break bones in the hip, spine,
and wrist, but any bone can be affected. Broken hips are very serious
and greatly increase the risk of death, especially during the year after
they break. Weak bones in the spine can cause fractures, as well as gradual
loss of height and a hunched over posture.
The good news is that osteoporosis can often be prevented and treated.
If you are 65 or older, ask your doctor about a Bone Mineral Density (BMD)
test, which may reveal if you have fragile bones. A proper diet, exercise,
and medications if needed can help prevent further bone loss and reduce
the risk of fractures.