Symptom: Osteoporosis

Introduction: Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis: Bone mass loss (osteoporosis) as a symptom. See free access online books about Osteoporosis below. See detailed information below for a list of 186 causes of Osteoporosis, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Osteoporosis: full list

Causes of Osteoporosis

• Abderhalden-Kaufmann-Lignac syndrome - osteoporosis
• Achalasia - addisonianism - alacrima syndrome - osteoporosis
• Achalasia - Addisonianism - Alacrimia syndrome - osteoporosis
• Acroosteolysis neurogenic - osteoporosis
• Adrenal adenoma, familial - osteoporosis

See all 186 causes of Osteoporosis

Causes of Types of Osteoporosis:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Osteoporosis:

• Osteopenia (26 causes)

More types of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Osteoporosis, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Osteoporosis: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Osteoporosis and Bone symptoms (144 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Head symptoms (98 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Face symptoms (88 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Body symptoms (85 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Growth symptoms (75 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Poor growth (75 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Infant symptoms (71 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Nerve symptoms (69 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Short stature (64 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Sensations (64 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Behavioral symptoms (61 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Eye symptoms (60 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Muscle symptoms (60 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Personality symptoms (60 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Swelling symptoms (57 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Skin symptoms (56 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Pain (55 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Weakness (55 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Skin problems (54 causes)
• Osteoporosis and Muscle weakness (52 causes)

See full list of 1086 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Osteoporosis

Home Diagnostic Testing and Osteoporosis

Home medical tests possibly related to Osteoporosis:

• Osteoporosis & Bone Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Osteoporosis Tests
  • Home Bone Loss Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Bone symptoms (600 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Osteoporosis

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Osteoporosis:

• Bone pain (186 causes)
• Fractures (106 causes)
• Thin bones
• Bone symptoms (600 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Osteoporosis

12 MEDICAL SYMPTOM BOOKS: FULL TEXT ONLINE! Read the full text of published book sections related to Osteoporosis from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Osteoporosis. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Osteoporosis

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Osteoporosis

Alzheimer's disease over-diagnosed: The well-known disease of Alzheimer's disease is often over-diagnosed. Patients tend to assume that any memory loss or forgetulness symptom might be Alzheimer's, whereas there are many other less...read more »

Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur...read more »

Rare type of breast cancer without a lump: There is a less common form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. Its symptoms can be an inflammation of the breast tissue, such as with a breast rash with redness and warmth, but...read more »

Tremor need not be Parkinson's disease: There is the tendency to believe that any tremor symptom, or shakiness, means Parkinson's disease....read more »

Rare diseases misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease: A rare genetic disorder is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease for men in their 50's. The disease Fragile X disorder can show only mild symptoms in the early years, and Parkinsons-like symptoms...read more »

Female athlete syndrome leads to undiagnosed osteoporosis: Younger women are not usually considered as candidates for diagnosis of osteoporosis. However, a pattern of three conditions can occur in female...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency or misdiagnosis of multiple...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Osteoporosis

Diagnostic tests for Osteoporosis:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Osteoporosis. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Inspect for kyphosis (deformity of the spine characterized by excessive flexion) which causes a round shouldered appearance with a hump on the back. This is due to repeated minor fractures of the vertebra
  • Examine for signs of systemic disease that may increase the risk of osteoporosis - e.g. hyperthyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, anorexia nervosa, Crohn's disease.
• Blood tests
  • Electrolytes, including calcium and phosphate levels (Calcium and phosphate levels are usually normal with osteoporosis; but elevated phosphate levels are common with hyperparathyroidism which increases the risk of osteoporosis)

See full list of 23 diagnostic tests for Osteoporosis

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Osteoporosis. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• What is the sex and age of the person with osteoporosis? - After the menopause, women lose calcium from their bones at a much faster rate than men due to the lowered levels of estrogen. By the age of 65, women have 3-5 times the risk of fractures than men.
• What is the race of the person with osteoporosis? - Asian and Northern European races are at an increased risk of osteoporosis.
• What age where you when you had your last menstrual period? - Early menopause at an age of less than 45 years increases the risk of osteoporosis. This includes early menopause due to removal of ovaries and/or uterus.
• Have you had a history of amenorrhea (absence of menstrual periods for over six months)? - e.g. due to low body weight, anorexia nervosa, hyperthyroidism, pituitary tumor - Amenorrhea increases the risk of osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency.
• History of fractures, especially fractures with minimal trauma? - If the injury was minimal may suggest osteoporosis or pathological fracture due to bone tumor or bone metastases.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Osteoporosis (25 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Osteoporosis) may include:

• Loss of body height? - Collapse of the vertebral bodies of the spinal column is the hallmark of osteoporosis.
• Symptoms of hyperthyroidism? - e.g. intolerance to heat, sweating of hands, muscle weakness, increased appetite, weight loss, heart palpitations, loose bowel motions, emotional lability, agitation, over activity. Hyperthyroidism causes an increased risk of osteoporosis.
• Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome? - e.g. unexplained weight gain especially central abdominal, change of appearance, moon-like face, thin skin, easy bruising, excessive facial hair growth, acne, muscle weakness, lack of or rare menstrual periods, poor libido, depression, psychosis, insomnia, frequent urination and excessive thirst. Cushing's syndrome causes an increased risk of osteoporosis.
• Symptoms of Diabetes mellitus? - e.g. frequency of urination, excessive thirst, tiredness, fatigue, increased infections especially of the skin and genitals, blurry vision. Diabetes mellitus causes an increased risk of osteoporosis.
• Symptoms of Acromegaly? - e.g. excessive growth of hands, feet, nose, lips, face, jaw and tongue; weakness, sweating, headaches, loss of menstrual periods in females, reduced libido in males. Acromegaly causes an increased risk of osteoporosis.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Osteoporosis (25 listings)

Stories from Users for Osteoporosis

Real-life user stories relating to Osteoporosis:

• Ultrasonic Therapy In Osteoporosis
• drugs for osteoporosis

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Osteoporosis or relevant symptoms:

• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories
• Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (93)
  • Symptoms of Cushing's - Tests all negative
  • Has anyone been diagnosed with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and are being treated??
  • Pitutary tumor
  • I am at my wits end with these symptoms
  • I think I have Cushings, can you help?
  • More user stories

Videos for Osteoporosis

Patient Surveys for Osteoporosis

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Osteoporosis
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Causes of Osteoporosis listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Osteoporosis as a symptom include:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Anorexia nervosa
• Beta thalassaemia (severe / homozygous)
• Bonnet-Dechaume-Blanc syndrome
• Copper deficiency
• Cushing's disease
• Cushing's syndrome
• Cyproterone
• Cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency
• Dibasic aminoaciduria type 2
• Ethanol
• Exemestane
• Fabry's disease
• Geroderma osteodysplastica
• Glycerol kinase deficiency
• Haemochromatosis
• Hajdu-Cheney syndrome
• Hallermann-Streiff syndrome (HSS)
• Heparin
• Hyperimmunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome

See full list of 186 causes of Osteoporosis
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Osteoporosis:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Osteoporosis as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Leuprorelin
• Lucrin
• Questran Lite
• Cholestyramine

See full list of 4 medications causing Osteoporosis

Drug interactions causing Osteoporosis:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Osteoporosis as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Raloxifene and Prednisone interaction #occurs with long term use of Prednisone
• Evista and Prednisone interaction #occurs with long term use of Prednisone
• Raloxifene and Deltasone interaction #occurs with long term use of Deltasone
• Evista and Deltasone interaction #occurs with long term use of Deltasone
• Flunisolide and Phenytoin interaction

See full list of 80 drug interactions causing Osteoporosis

Article Excerpts about Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength reflects the integration of two main features: bone density and bone quality. Osteoporosis is the most common of the bone diseases that affect Americans. Although it is the underlying cause of most fractures in older people, the condition is silent and undetected in many cases until a fracture occurs. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis Progress and Promise: NIAMS)

Osteoporosis, which means "porous bones," is a condition of excessive skeletal fragility resulting in weakened bones that break easily. A combination of genetic, dietary, hormonal, age-related, and lifestyle factors all contribute to this condition. Osteoporosis usually progresses painlessly until a fracture occurs, which is usually in the hip, spine, or wrist. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis: NWHIC)

Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they break easily—especially bones in the hip, spine (backbone), and wrist. You can lose bone over many years. Because you may not notice any symptoms until a bone breaks, osteoporosis is called the “silent disease.” (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength reflects the integration of two main features: bone density and bone quality. Osteoporosis is the most common of the bone diseases that affect Americans. Although it is the underlying cause of most fractures in older people, the condition is silent and undetected in many cases until a fracture occurs. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis Progress and Promise: NIAMS)

Osteoporosis, which means "porous bones," is a condition of excessive skeletal fragility resulting in weakened bones that break easily. A combination of genetic, dietary, hormonal, age-related, and lifestyle factors all contribute to this condition. Osteoporosis usually progresses painlessly until a fracture occurs, which is usually in the hip, spine, or wrist. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis: NWHIC)

Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they break easily—especially bones in the hip, spine (backbone), and wrist. You can lose bone over many years. Because you may not notice any symptoms until a bone breaks, osteoporosis is called the “silent disease.” (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Definitions of Osteoporosis:

Osteoporosis: Reduction in the quantity of bone or atrophy of skeletal tissue; an age-related disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and loss of normal skeletal microarchitecture, leading to increased susceptibility to fractures. [osteo- + G. poros, pore, + -osis, condition]Osteoporosis affects 20 million U.S. residents, about 80% of them women, and costs U.S. society as much as $13.8 billion annually. About 1.3 million fractures attributable to osteoporosis occur each year in people aged 45 and older, and this condition is responsible for 50% of fractures occurring in women older than age 50. Although all bones are affected, compression fractures of the vertebrae and traumatic fractures of the wrist and femoral neck are most common. Loss of body height and development of kyphosis may be the only signs of vertebral collapse. Fractures in the elderly often lead to loss of mobility and independence, social alienation, fear of further falls and fractures, and depression. After hip fracture, most elderly patients fail to recover normal activity, and mortality within 1 year approaches 20%. Osteoporosis occurs when bone resorption outpaces bone formation. Underlying mechanisms are complex and probably diverse. Bone constantly undergoes cycles of resorption and remodeling to maintain the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the extracellular fluid. When serum calcium concentration drops, increased secretion of parathyroid hormone stimulates bone resorption by osteoclasts to restore serum calcium levels to normal. Bone mass declines with age and is influenced by sex, race, menopause, and weight-for-height. Dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D as well as intestinal and renal function affect calcium and phosphate homeostasis. The risk of osteoporosis is highest in postmenopausal women. Asian or white race, underweight, dietary calcium deficiency, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking appear to be independent risk factors. The decline of vitamin D3 level with aging results in calcium malabsorption, which, in turn, stimulates bone resorption. Estrogen deficiency exacerbates this problem by increasing the sensitivity of bone to resorbing agents. Female athletes who become amenorrheic because of rigorous exercise and dietary restriction or eating disorders are at risk of osteoporosis. The formation and resorption of bone are also influenced by external physical factors such as body weight and exercise. Immobilization and prolonged bed rest produce rapid bone loss, whereas exercise involving weight-bearing, resistance, and high impact has been shown both to reduce bone loss and to increase bone mass. Risk factors for osteoporosis in men include alcoholism, chronic lung disease, hypogonadism, and rheumatoid arthritis, and other disorders that restrict mobility. Osteoporosis is common in young adults with cystic fibrosis and in people receiving long-term thyroid hormone or glucocorticoid therapy. The diagnosis of primary osteoporosis is established by documentation of reduced bone density after exclusion of known causes of excessive bone loss. Assessment of bone density is currently recommended for all women 65 and older and for younger women who are at increased risk of osteoporosis. Roentgenograms are insensitive indicators of bone loss, because bone density must have decreased by at least 20-30% before the reduction can be appreciated. Standard diagnostic procedures are determination of bone mineral density (BMD) at the ultradistal radius and midshaft radius by single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) and at the hip and lumbar spine by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as a BMD more than 2.5 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for healthy premenopausal women and osteopenia as a BMD between 1 and 2.5 SD below that level. A quantitative ultrasound procedure is comparable with bone density measurements by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in predicting fractures due to osteoporosis. The goal of therapy in osteoporosis is prevention of fractures in susceptible patients. The appropriate timing and proper use of agents such as calcium, vitamin D, estrogen, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and raloxifene and the role of exercise have generated major research efforts and considerable controversy. Intake of adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, and continuing moderate weight-bearing exercise, are basic preventive measures for people of all ages. Those with demonstrated reduction of bone mineral density should take 1200-1500 mg of calcium and 400-800 IU of vitamin D daily. Administration of estrogen at and after menopause does not simply halt the loss of bone, but actually increases bone mass. However, to date there is no experimental proof that hormone replacement with estrogen reduces the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women. The possible benefits of estrogen therapy must be weighed against the increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma (which can be offset by concomitant administration of progestogen), myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, venous thromboembolism, and gallbladder disease. The selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene has been approved for prevention of osteoporosis. It does not cause endometrial hyperplasia but is less effective than estrogen in conserving bone mass. The hormone calcitonin, administered by injection or nasal spray, inhibits bone resorption. Bisphosphonates such as alendronate and etidronate, which bind to bone crystals, rendering them resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis and inhibiting the action of osteoclasts, have been shown to increase bone mineral density. In contrast to other agents, teriparatide, a synthetic version of the biologically active segment of human parathyroid hormone, actually stimulates bone formation in osteoporosis. Strategies to prevent falls are important in elderly patients. see also estrogen replacement therapy, raloxifene.
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

RAEB: A condition of reduced bone mass, with decreased cortical thickness and a decrease in the number and size of the trabeculae of cancellous bone (but normal chemical composition), resulting in increased fracture incidence. Osteoporosis is classified as primary (Type 1, postmenopausal osteoporosis; Type 2, age-associated osteoporosis; and idiopathic, which can affect juveniles, premenopausal women, and middle-aged men) and secondary osteoporosis (which results from an identifiable cause of bone mass loss).
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Abnormal loss of bony tissue resulting in fragile porous bones attributable to a lack of calcium; most common in postmenopausal women
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Loss of bone mass and strength due to nutritional, metabolic, or other factors, usually resulting in deformity or fracture; a major public health problem of the elderly, especially women.
- (Source - CRISP)

A condition that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, causing bones to become fragile.
- (Source - National Cancer Institute)

Organs affected by Osteoporosis:

The list of organs typically affected by Osteoporosis may include, but is not limited to:

• Bone

Detailed list of causes of Osteoporosis

The list below shows some of the causes of Osteoporosis mentioned in various sources:

• Abderhalden-Kaufmann-Lignac syndrome - osteoporosis
• Achalasia - addisonianism - alacrima syndrome - osteoporosis
• Achalasia - Addisonianism - Alacrimia syndrome - osteoporosis
• Acroosteolysis neurogenic - osteoporosis
• Adrenal adenoma, familial - osteoporosis

See full list of 186 causes of Osteoporosis

How Common are these Causes of Osteoporosis?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Osteoporosis. Of the 186 causes of Osteoporosis that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 0 causes are "very common" diseases
• 6 causes are "common" diseases
• 3 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 3 causes are "rare" diseases
• 6 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 173 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 186 causes of Osteoporosis

Conditions listing symptoms: Osteoporosis:

The following list of conditions have 'Osteoporosis' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

A

Causes of Osteoporosis Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Osteoporosis based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: