Osteoporosis - prevention, recognition and treatment

Osteoporosis (porous bone) is a common disease that leads to increasing brittleness of the bones and thus an increased risk of bone fractures. At Bethesda Hospital, we rely on a holistic approach to detect osteoporosis at an early stage and create an individually tailored treatment plan to minimise the risk of fractures.

Osteoporosis often progresses for a long time without any noticeable symptoms
Osteoporosis often progresses for a long time without any noticeable symptoms

How osteoporosis develops

Our bone is a dynamic tissue that adapts to stress by constantly building up and breaking down. It consists of a framework of special proteins, mainly collagen (type 1), into which calcium and phosphate are incorporated, which is called "mineralisation of the bone". Highly specialised cells - osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts - are responsible for building up the protein scaffold, mineralising it with calcium and phosphate, and carrying out bone repairs in the event of minor and major injuries or bone fractures. Our bones are bounded by a solid outer bone frame, while the inside of the bones is more like a sponge. It is thanks to this "lightweight construction" that our skeleton weighs only 9kg on average and we do not have to carry around unnecessary ballast.

We build up our bone mass until around the age of 30, after which the build-up and reduction ideally balance each other out. Osteoporosis occurs when the loss of bone mass is constant or occurs faster than the build-up over a longer period of time. Various factors contribute to this: Ageing processes, hormonal changes during the menopause, lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking, insufficient calcium and vitamin D intake, chronic illnesses, as well as certain medications. Heredity also plays a role. Osteoporosis is a gradual process in the course of which both the thickness of the frame bone and the density of the spongy bone decrease. At the same time, the fragility of the bone increases and with it the risk of suffering a fracture.

Osteoporosis - Important to know

Find out everything you need to know about osteoporosis here and find out about the various treatment options we offer.

Osteoporosis, or when the bone simply breaks

Osteoporosis often progresses for a long time without any noticeable symptoms. The first signs may be back pain, a gradual reduction in height or an increasing curvature of the back. However, these are already signs of vertebral bone fractures that have already occurred (so-called "vertebral fractures"). Typically, bone fractures occur without adequate trauma. Unfortunately, osteoporosis is all too often not considered after such events, which usually leads to further fractures.

Are you unsure whether you suffer from osteoporosis? Then make an appointment for an examination!

Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm

+41 61 315 23 20

rheuma-schmerz@bethesda-spital.notexisting@nodomain.comch

to the Rheumatism/Pain website

Preventive examinations, diagnosis and assessment of fracture risk

At Bethesda Hospital, patients who are suspected or already known to have osteoporosis are cared for by specially trained staff at our outpatient osteoporosis consultations at the Rheumatology & Pain Medicine Clinic. Very important for the early detection of osteoporosis and assessment of the fracture risk are the medical history, i.e. taking a medical history (including drug treatments), analysing the average daily calcium intake, special laboratory tests and measuring bone density using a special X-ray examination (DEXA examination).

These examinations enable us to calculate the individual 10-year risk of an osteoporotic fracture for each patient and to determine the best therapy to reduce the risk of fracture.

Are you unsure whether you suffer from osteoporosis? Then make an appointment for an examination!

Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm

+41 61 315 23 20

rheuma-schmerz@bethesda-spital.notexisting@nodomain.comch

to the Rheumatism/Pain website

What can be done against osteoporosis?

The most important treatment goal for osteoporosis is to reduce the risk of fractures. This requires a combination of measures: Adjustment of lifestyle, where possible, with more exercise and elimination of existing, controllable risk factors of osteoporosis (e.g. medication, smoking, alcohol); improvement of the calcium and vitamin D balance through dietary counselling and, if not otherwise possible, dosed intake of calcium and vitamin D3 supplements.

Today we are in the fortunate position of having effective medication available that can inhibit further bone loss and even build new bone. The use of these drugs is based on the calculated fracture risk and individual contextual factors. When choosing the medication and determining the duration of treatment, we involve our patients and discuss the relevant benefits and risks of the therapy with them.

Finally, measures to prevent falls are very important, e.g. special physiotherapy or a home assessment for "fall traps", as an increased risk of falling doubles the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

Are you unsure whether you suffer from osteoporosis? Then make an appointment for an examination!

Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm

+41 61 315 23 20

rheuma-schmerz@bethesda-spital.notexisting@nodomain.comch

to the Rheumatism/Pain website

A bone fracture every 5-6 minutes as a result of osteoporosis

In Switzerland, well over half a million people are affected by osteoporosis, and every 5-6 minutes a person in Switzerland suffers a bone fracture as a result of osteoporosis (osteoporotic fracture). Every 5th woman and every 14th man over the age of 50 will suffer an osteoporotic fracture of the femur in their lifetime, which has a mortality rate of 20-40%. In Switzerland, around 1000 people die every year as a result of an osteoporotic fracture. Osteoporotic fractures cause a considerable loss of healthy life years, which is similar to that of dementia, lung cancer and emphysema, and higher than that of strokes.

At Bethesda Hospital, you are surrounded by a team of experts who will accompany you from diagnosis through to personalised treatment. We are here for you to protect and strengthen your bone health in the long term.

Are you unsure whether you suffer from osteoporosis? Then make an appointment for an examination!

Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm

+41 61 315 23 20

rheuma-schmerz@bethesda-spital.notexisting@nodomain.comch

to the Rheumatism/Pain website

Osteoporosis / brittle bones | Diagnosis programme on telebasel

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in old age. However, many people still believe that osteoporosis is a rare disease that only affects women. This is not true. about risks and treatment in the Diagnose programme. In the telebasel programme Diagnosis, we shed light on the clinical picture of osteoporosis and discuss the various treatment options at Bethesda Hospital.

To the programme

FAQs on osteoporosis

We have compiled the most frequently asked questions about osteoporosis, answered by our medical experts.

Do you have any other questions that are not answered here? Please feel free to contact us - we will be happy to help you.

The first signs of osteoporosis can be severe back pain, a significant reduction in height over time or an increasing, significant curvature of the spine. Bone fractures that occur spontaneously or after minor trauma are important indications of osteoporosis and must be investigated further for the presence of osteoporosis. If osteoporosis is suspected, please contact the rheumatology department at Bethesda Hospital for a targeted clarification and consultation.

Prevention of osteoporosis includes a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise, avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. The rheumatology department at Bethesda Hospital is at your disposal for individual prevention recommendations.

Osteoporosis is diagnosed by a bone density measurement (DEXA scan), clinical examinations, blood tests, X-rays and sometimes also an MRI examination. Our specialist rheumatology department at Bethesda Hospital offers these diagnostic procedures. Make an appointment for a comprehensive examination.

If you notice the signs or symptoms of osteoporosis described above, such as back pain, a reduction in height, an increasing curvature of the back or fractures after minimal falls (or spontaneously), you should consult a doctor immediately. It is also advisable to seek medical advice if you have a family history of osteoporosis or other risk factors, such as early menopause (before the age of 45) or long-term use of medication (e.g. cortisone-containing drugs) that can affect bone health. The rheumatology department at Bethesda Hospital offers comprehensive consultations and diagnostic options. Please do not hesitate to contact us for an examination so that appropriate measures can be taken at an early stage.

Treatment for osteoporosis may include lifestyle changes - e.g. more exercise, less alcohol, STOP nicotine - dietary changes or taking calcium and vitamin D3 supplements, or customised drug therapies. Contact us at the Rheumatology Department at Bethesda Hospital to discuss your individual treatment plan.

Even though osteoporosis is currently incurable, we now have very good medication at our disposal that can both stop further bone loss and build new bone. Early, appropriate treatment can significantly reduce the risk of fracture or re-fracture (after fractures have already occurred), which can significantly increase life expectancy and quality of life. Our rheumatology team at Bethesda Hospital will help you to find the best strategies for disease management.

Yes, a balanced diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D is crucial for bone health. For individual nutritional advice, please contact the rheumatology department at Bethesda Hospital.

Regular, bone-strengthening exercise is an important part of osteoporosis treatment and prevention. The team of experts in rheumatology at Bethesda Hospital can help you develop a safe and effective exercise programme.

The progression of osteoporosis varies from person to person and depends on many factors. Regular check-ups in the rheumatology department at Bethesda Hospital can help to monitor the progression of your disease.

Risk factors include age, gender, family history, short stature and weight, early menopause, smoking and certain medications. For a risk assessment and advice, contact the rheumatology department at Bethesda Hospital.

Following a diagnosis of osteoporosis, it is important to draw up a treatment plan and take preventive measures. The rheumatology specialists at Bethesda Hospital are ready to provide you with the necessary information and treatment options.

The experienced specialists at Bethesda Hospital will be happy to support you.
The experienced specialists at Bethesda Hospital will be happy to support you.
(Shutterstock)

The specialists on the subject of osteoporosis

The clinical picture of osteoporosis falls under the specialism of our rheumatology / pain medicine department. Our experienced specialists will be happy to help you - let them advise you individually on the right treatment for your needs.

Counselling in the rheumatism/pain clinic

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