Osteoporosis Specialist
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Prime Endocrinology of Tampa
Archana Swami, MD
Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Thyroid Specialist located in Tampa, FL
Osteoporosis affects 4% of men and 18% of women over the age of 50. Unfortunately, most of them don't know they have the disease until they end up with a fracture. At Prime Endocrinology of Tampa, Archana Swami, MD, has extensive experience screening for osteoporosis, creating a plan to prevent the disease, and providing personalized treatment after osteoporosis develops. To learn about your risk factors or to get effective treatment to restore healthy bones, call the office in Tampa, Florida, or book an appointment online today.
Osteoporosis Q & A
What causes osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis occurs when you lose enough bone mass and strength to cause brittle, weak bones. Weak bones don't happen quickly or due to trauma. Instead, the problem develops slowly over many years.
Your body normally keeps your bones strong by continuously eliminating old and damaged bone and replacing it with new bone. As you get older, you lose bone faster than it's replaced with new bone. As a result, your bones gradually weaken.
What increases my risk of developing osteoporosis?
Though anyone can develop osteoporosis, your overall risk depends on factors such as:
Menopause
Women lose up to 20% of their bone density in the first 5-7 years after menopause, making them highly vulnerable to developing osteoporosis.
Lack of exercise
You need to regularly engage in weight-bearing exercises to trigger new bone production.
Nutritional deficiencies
You need to get enough calcium and vitamin D to ensure your body can produce new bone cells.
Corticosteroid use
Your risk for osteoporosis is higher if you take corticosteroids for an ongoing health condition. Corticosteroids cause weak bones by interfering with calcium absorption.
What symptoms indicate I have osteoporosis?
You won't experience symptoms until a bone breaks. As your bones weaken, they can break with little force. A vigorous cough or falling from a standing position can lead to a fracture.
Osteoporosis also causes compression fractures in the spinal vertebrae. During a compression fracture, the vertebra collapses because it's too weak to support the normal stress on your spine. Compression fractures usually occur in the upper-middle back.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
Your provider can determine your risk of developing osteoporosis and diagnose existing disease with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. The DEXA scan uses a small dose of radiation to create images showing bone loss.
How is osteoporosis treated?
In addition to the impact of your diet, age, exercise, and steroid medication, many health conditions can cause or contribute to osteoporosis. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, and pituitary disorders all have an association with osteoporosis.
Your treatment targets your bones while also treating any underlying conditions. Prime Endocrinology of Tampa treats conditions related to hormone problems, such as thyroid disease, pituitary disorders, and diabetes, and refers you to a specialist for other conditions.
Osteoporosis treatment includes lifestyle changes as needed (diet and exercise) and medications. Though your provider may prescribe one of several medicines, bisphosphonates are the first line of treatment because they slow down bone loss.
When osteoporosis is associated with hormone imbalances, such as the loss of estrogen or low testosterone, your provider recommends hormone replacement therapy.
If you need screening or treatment for osteoporosis, call Prime Endocrinology of Tampa or book an appointment online today.
