Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStagesPrognosisComplicationsTreatmentLiving With OsteoporosisFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Osteoporosis GuideHow Osteoporosis Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Stages
Prognosis
Complications
Treatment
Living With Osteoporosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Osteoporosis Guide
Osteoporosiscauses progressive bone loss that can lead to fractures, breaks, and deformities. While the condition worsens over time, proper treatment can help reduce complications and alleviate symptoms.
This article discusses the prognosis, complications, and treatment options associated with osteoporosis.
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Stages of Osteoporosis
9 Early Warning Signs of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis Prognosis
Peopleliving with osteoporosisexperience a reduced quality of life and lower life expectancy rates. The length of time a person can live with osteoporosis depends on their treatment and the age when they were diagnosed.
What Is the Average Life Expectancy for People With Osteoporosis?When looking at the average, research has shown that males who begin treatment before 60 and women who begin treatment before 75 can expect to live 15 years or more following their diagnosis.
What Is the Average Life Expectancy for People With Osteoporosis?
When looking at the average, research has shown that males who begin treatment before 60 and women who begin treatment before 75 can expect to live 15 years or more following their diagnosis.
The Importance of Early Detection
Because osteoporosis is progressive, detecting it early is vital. In addition, the treatments in place for the condition can both slow bone loss and help rebuild new bone, so if a person is diagnosed early and follows a treatment plan, they can better avoid disease complications, such asbone fractures.
Preventing OsteoporosisIf a person stays on top of their bone health early on in life, they can prevent significant bone loss from occurring. By doing so, they can reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis.
Preventing Osteoporosis
If a person stays on top of their bone health early on in life, they can prevent significant bone loss from occurring. By doing so, they can reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis.
Common Complications
Several osteoporosis-related complications can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life and cause a shortened life expectancy. Those complications include:
Avoiding Complications
Treating osteoporosis focuses on reducing bone loss and building new bone tissue. Medications and lifestyle interventions should be used together during treatment for the best results.
What Is Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFR)?
Medications
What are Osteoclasts and Osteoblasts?Osteoclasts are cells that break down bones, and osteoblasts are cells that help form new bone tissue.
What are Osteoclasts and Osteoblasts?
Osteoclasts are cells that break down bones, and osteoblasts are cells that help form new bone tissue.
Lifestyle
Making lifestyle changes can also help with osteoporosis because certain factors play a role in the development and progression of the disease. For example, to improve osteoporosis to avoid complications, you can:
Making Lifestyle Changes and Sticking to ThemWhile lifestyle changes won’t cure or reverse osteoporosis, alongside effective medication, they can significantly reduce your risk of complications and improve your quality of life. For example, if you have difficulty quitting smoking or reducing your alcohol intake, you can contact Quitlines for smoking or theNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholismfor help.
Making Lifestyle Changes and Sticking to Them
While lifestyle changes won’t cure or reverse osteoporosis, alongside effective medication, they can significantly reduce your risk of complications and improve your quality of life. For example, if you have difficulty quitting smoking or reducing your alcohol intake, you can contact Quitlines for smoking or theNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholismfor help.
Why Smoking Marijuana Might Be Bad for Your Bones
Managing osteoporosiseffectively is vital for maintaining a good quality of life with the condition. One of the most important aspects of coping with the disease is preventing fractures since a break can lead to other complications and worsened outcomes,including disability.
Aside from taking your medications as prescribed and sticking to your lifestyle changes, you can:
You could also explore osteoporosissupport groupsto get more tips on managing your disease from people who genuinely know what you’re going through.
How Many People Have Osteoporosis?Osteoporosis is quite common, especially in aging populations. Roughly 10 million people in the U.S. have the condition, while 44 million are at risk of developing it.
How Many People Have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is quite common, especially in aging populations. Roughly 10 million people in the U.S. have the condition, while 44 million are at risk of developing it.
Sex Differences in Skeletons and Bone Health
Summary
Osteoporosis is a progressive condition. While it is not considered fatal in and of itself, it does shorten a person’s life expectancy. That is especially true if someone does not receive adequate treatment. However, people with osteoporosis can expect to live 15 years or more after their diagnosis if they take the proper medications and make the necessary lifestyle changes.
Treatments for osteoporosis are designed to lessen bone loss and aid in forming new bone so that bone mass can be somewhat restored to reduce the risk of fractures and complications. During treatment, people with the condition should pay attention to their homes and surroundings to ensure that they take all the necessary steps to avoid a fall that could lead to a bone break or fracture.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is no cure for osteoporosis, and it cannot be fully reversed. However, viable treatments are available that help prevent bone loss and slow the progression of the disease. People with proper treatment can expect a maintained quality of life while managing the disease.Learn MoreCan Osteoporosis Be Reversed?Osteoporosis affects lifespan. However, people with the condition are only affected if they experience fractures or severe bone loss that causes kyphosis. Fractures cause complications that can lead to a decreased quality of life and early mortality. People who do not treat their osteoporosis are much more likely to experience fractures that could lead to death. While it’s not clear how long a person can live with the disease without treatment, it does put you at serious risk of a lowered life expectancy.Learn MoreHow to Treat OsteoporosisBone loss begins in a person’s late 20s and early 30s. After that, the rate at which bone loss occurs differs depending on the person and other lifestyle factors. For example, people going through menopause may lose bone at a rate of 4% per year.Learn MoreBone Loss: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
There is no cure for osteoporosis, and it cannot be fully reversed. However, viable treatments are available that help prevent bone loss and slow the progression of the disease. People with proper treatment can expect a maintained quality of life while managing the disease.Learn MoreCan Osteoporosis Be Reversed?
There is no cure for osteoporosis, and it cannot be fully reversed. However, viable treatments are available that help prevent bone loss and slow the progression of the disease. People with proper treatment can expect a maintained quality of life while managing the disease.
Learn MoreCan Osteoporosis Be Reversed?
Osteoporosis affects lifespan. However, people with the condition are only affected if they experience fractures or severe bone loss that causes kyphosis. Fractures cause complications that can lead to a decreased quality of life and early mortality. People who do not treat their osteoporosis are much more likely to experience fractures that could lead to death. While it’s not clear how long a person can live with the disease without treatment, it does put you at serious risk of a lowered life expectancy.Learn MoreHow to Treat Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects lifespan. However, people with the condition are only affected if they experience fractures or severe bone loss that causes kyphosis. Fractures cause complications that can lead to a decreased quality of life and early mortality. People who do not treat their osteoporosis are much more likely to experience fractures that could lead to death. While it’s not clear how long a person can live with the disease without treatment, it does put you at serious risk of a lowered life expectancy.
Learn MoreHow to Treat Osteoporosis
Bone loss begins in a person’s late 20s and early 30s. After that, the rate at which bone loss occurs differs depending on the person and other lifestyle factors. For example, people going through menopause may lose bone at a rate of 4% per year.Learn MoreBone Loss: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Bone loss begins in a person’s late 20s and early 30s. After that, the rate at which bone loss occurs differs depending on the person and other lifestyle factors. For example, people going through menopause may lose bone at a rate of 4% per year.
Learn MoreBone Loss: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: What the numbers mean.Abrahamsen B, Osmond C, Cooper C.Life expectancy in patients treated for osteoporosis: Observational cohort study using national Danish prescription data.J Bone Miner Res.2015;30(9):1553-1559. doi:10.1002/jbmr.2478Rinaldi C, Bortoluzzi S, Airoldi C, et al.The early detection of osteoporosis in a cohort of healthcare workers: Is there room for a screening program?Int J Environ Res Public Health.2021;18(3):1368. doi:10.3390/ijerph18031368International Osteoporosis Foundation.Epidemiology of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis and your spine.National Institutes on Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bed rest and immobilization: risk factors for bone loss.Maraka S, Kennel KA.Bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.BMJ. 2015:h3783. doi:10.1136/bmj.h3783Benedetti MG, Furlini G, Zati A, Letizia Mauro G.The effectiveness of physical exercise on bone density in osteoporotic patients.Biomed Res Int.2018;2018:4840531. doi:10.1155/2018/4840531Muñoz-Garach A, García-Fontana B, Muñoz-Torres M.Nutrients and dietary patterns related to osteoporosis.Nutrients. 2020;12(7):1986. doi:10.3390/nu12071986Al-Bashaireh AM, Haddad LG, Weaver M, Chengguo X, Kelly DL, Yoon S.The effect of tobacco smoking on bone mass: An overview of pathophysiologic mechanisms.J Osteoporos.2018;2018:1206235. doi:10.1155/2018/1206235Cheraghi Z, Doosti-Irani A, Almasi-Hashiani A, et al.The effect of alcohol on osteoporosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Drug Alcohol Depend.2019;197:197-202. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.025National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Osteoporosis.National Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Osteoporosis information.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: What the numbers mean.Abrahamsen B, Osmond C, Cooper C.Life expectancy in patients treated for osteoporosis: Observational cohort study using national Danish prescription data.J Bone Miner Res.2015;30(9):1553-1559. doi:10.1002/jbmr.2478Rinaldi C, Bortoluzzi S, Airoldi C, et al.The early detection of osteoporosis in a cohort of healthcare workers: Is there room for a screening program?Int J Environ Res Public Health.2021;18(3):1368. doi:10.3390/ijerph18031368International Osteoporosis Foundation.Epidemiology of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis and your spine.National Institutes on Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bed rest and immobilization: risk factors for bone loss.Maraka S, Kennel KA.Bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.BMJ. 2015:h3783. doi:10.1136/bmj.h3783Benedetti MG, Furlini G, Zati A, Letizia Mauro G.The effectiveness of physical exercise on bone density in osteoporotic patients.Biomed Res Int.2018;2018:4840531. doi:10.1155/2018/4840531Muñoz-Garach A, García-Fontana B, Muñoz-Torres M.Nutrients and dietary patterns related to osteoporosis.Nutrients. 2020;12(7):1986. doi:10.3390/nu12071986Al-Bashaireh AM, Haddad LG, Weaver M, Chengguo X, Kelly DL, Yoon S.The effect of tobacco smoking on bone mass: An overview of pathophysiologic mechanisms.J Osteoporos.2018;2018:1206235. doi:10.1155/2018/1206235Cheraghi Z, Doosti-Irani A, Almasi-Hashiani A, et al.The effect of alcohol on osteoporosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Drug Alcohol Depend.2019;197:197-202. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.025National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Osteoporosis.National Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Osteoporosis information.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: What the numbers mean.Abrahamsen B, Osmond C, Cooper C.Life expectancy in patients treated for osteoporosis: Observational cohort study using national Danish prescription data.J Bone Miner Res.2015;30(9):1553-1559. doi:10.1002/jbmr.2478Rinaldi C, Bortoluzzi S, Airoldi C, et al.The early detection of osteoporosis in a cohort of healthcare workers: Is there room for a screening program?Int J Environ Res Public Health.2021;18(3):1368. doi:10.3390/ijerph18031368International Osteoporosis Foundation.Epidemiology of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis and your spine.National Institutes on Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bed rest and immobilization: risk factors for bone loss.Maraka S, Kennel KA.Bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.BMJ. 2015:h3783. doi:10.1136/bmj.h3783Benedetti MG, Furlini G, Zati A, Letizia Mauro G.The effectiveness of physical exercise on bone density in osteoporotic patients.Biomed Res Int.2018;2018:4840531. doi:10.1155/2018/4840531Muñoz-Garach A, García-Fontana B, Muñoz-Torres M.Nutrients and dietary patterns related to osteoporosis.Nutrients. 2020;12(7):1986. doi:10.3390/nu12071986Al-Bashaireh AM, Haddad LG, Weaver M, Chengguo X, Kelly DL, Yoon S.The effect of tobacco smoking on bone mass: An overview of pathophysiologic mechanisms.J Osteoporos.2018;2018:1206235. doi:10.1155/2018/1206235Cheraghi Z, Doosti-Irani A, Almasi-Hashiani A, et al.The effect of alcohol on osteoporosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Drug Alcohol Depend.2019;197:197-202. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.025National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Osteoporosis.National Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Osteoporosis information.
National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: What the numbers mean.
Abrahamsen B, Osmond C, Cooper C.Life expectancy in patients treated for osteoporosis: Observational cohort study using national Danish prescription data.J Bone Miner Res.2015;30(9):1553-1559. doi:10.1002/jbmr.2478
Rinaldi C, Bortoluzzi S, Airoldi C, et al.The early detection of osteoporosis in a cohort of healthcare workers: Is there room for a screening program?Int J Environ Res Public Health.2021;18(3):1368. doi:10.3390/ijerph18031368
International Osteoporosis Foundation.Epidemiology of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.
Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis and your spine.
National Institutes on Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bed rest and immobilization: risk factors for bone loss.
Maraka S, Kennel KA.Bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.BMJ. 2015:h3783. doi:10.1136/bmj.h3783
Benedetti MG, Furlini G, Zati A, Letizia Mauro G.The effectiveness of physical exercise on bone density in osteoporotic patients.Biomed Res Int.2018;2018:4840531. doi:10.1155/2018/4840531
Muñoz-Garach A, García-Fontana B, Muñoz-Torres M.Nutrients and dietary patterns related to osteoporosis.Nutrients. 2020;12(7):1986. doi:10.3390/nu12071986
Al-Bashaireh AM, Haddad LG, Weaver M, Chengguo X, Kelly DL, Yoon S.The effect of tobacco smoking on bone mass: An overview of pathophysiologic mechanisms.J Osteoporos.2018;2018:1206235. doi:10.1155/2018/1206235
Cheraghi Z, Doosti-Irani A, Almasi-Hashiani A, et al.The effect of alcohol on osteoporosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Drug Alcohol Depend.2019;197:197-202. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.025
National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Osteoporosis.
National Osteoporosis Foundation.Osteoporosis fast facts.
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Osteoporosis information.
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What Is Osteoporosis?What Are the Stages of Osteoporosis?What Is the Prognosis for People Living With Osteoporosis?Reverse osteoporosis and prevent bone loss with effective medicationOsteoporosis Self-Care: Benefits of a Daily PracticeOsteoporosis Lifestyle Changes to Improve Bone Health
What Is Osteoporosis?
What Are the Stages of Osteoporosis?
What Is the Prognosis for People Living With Osteoporosis?
Reverse osteoporosis and prevent bone loss with effective medication
Osteoporosis Self-Care: Benefits of a Daily Practice
Osteoporosis Lifestyle Changes to Improve Bone Health
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