| Life Expectancy Rates by Sex and Age | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age Treatment Begins | Males | Females |
| 50 years old | 18.2 years | 26.4 years |
| 75 years old | 7.5 years | 13.5 years |
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 as bone fractures.
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
Osteoporosis can lead to several complications that may significantly reduce a person’s quality of life and shorten life expectancy. These complications include:
- Fractures: Roughly 8.9 million fractures are caused by osteoporosis each year. That amounts to one fracture every three seconds.
- Pain: Chronic pain isn’t directly caused by osteoporosis, but it can develop after fractures. One specific complication is kyphosis, which causes pain from muscle, tendon, and ligament strain in the back.
- Posture changes: As mentioned above, kyphosis can occur in people with osteoporosis after fractures occur in the spine. The complication causes the spine to round forward, leading to a hunched-over appearance or a pushed-out stomach. Kyphosis can cause further complications, such as difficulty breathing and eating, caused by the body bending in an unnatural position.
- Limited mobility: Fractures and temporary immobility caused by fractures can lead to long periods of physical inactivity. Eventually, this inactivity further weakens muscles and other parts of the body.
Avoiding Complications
The best way to avoid complications if you already have osteoporosis is by following through with a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes and medications.
Treatment
The main goal in treating osteoporosis is to reduce bone loss and stimulate the formation of new bone tissue. For optimal results, a combination of medications and lifestyle changes is recommended.
Medications
Medications used to treat osteoporosis do so by affecting different bodily processes that cause bone loss. Drugs used to treat the condition include:
| Medication Type | What it Does | How it Works |
| Bisphosphonates | Works on both rebuilding bones and preventing bone loss | Osteoclasts absorb the medication instead of old bone tissue, slowing down bone breakdown. |
| Hormone-related medications | Act as vital hormones in the body | Work by reducing bone loss caused by hormone deficiencies or ensuring there are enough hormones needed for adequate nutrient absorption |
| Hormone-replacement Therapy | Ensures the body has enough estrogen for bone remodeling | Increases estrogen levels |
| Antibody drugs | Stabilizes cell signaling pathways that aid in bone remodeling | Regulates the action and production of osteoclasts and osteoblasts |
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:
- Exercise: Exercise, especially weight-bearing and resistance exercises, can help to strengthen the bones by encouraging the action of osteoblasts.
- Eat healthily: Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies can speed up bone loss. By getting enough of these in your diet, you can ensure that you give your body what it needs for an adequate bone remodeling cycle.
- Quit smoking: Smoking can cause bone loss for many reasons, including inhibiting nutrient absorption, causing inflammation, and driving an imbalance in important hormones.
- Avoid alcohol: Heavy alcohol use has been shown to increase stress hormones, hinder nutrient absorption, and cause hormone imbalance, all of which can increase bone loss.
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 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for help.
Living With Osteoporosis
Managing osteoporosis effectively 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:
- Use a cane or walking aid to help stabilize yourself while walking
- Choose footwear that has a grip sole and adequate foot and body support
- When in doubt, walk on the grass to avoid slippery pavement
- Avoid winter falls by icing sidewalks around your home
- Always check the height of a curb or step before going ahead
- Clear a path within your home free of debris or cords
- Install carpet or plastic floor runners on hard and possibly slippery floors
- Wear indoor shoes that provide support
- Install railings on the sides of all staircases
- Install bars in your bath or shower and near your toilet
- Use a rubber bathmat inside your tub or shower
- Install a shower seat
- Keep a cell phone on you so you are close by if someone calls and won’t need to rush to answer it
- Explore personal emergency response systems to have on you at all times in case of a fall
You could also explore osteoporosis support groups to 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.
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