Is osteopenia a serious condition?

People who have osteopenia have a lower BMD than normal, but it’s not a disease. However, having osteopenia does increase your chances of developing osteoporosis. This bone disease causes fractures, stooped posture, and can lead to severe pain and loss of height. You can take action to prevent osteopenia.

What happens when you have osteopenia?

When you have osteopenia, your bones are weaker than they used to be but not weak enough for you to be diagnosed with osteoporosis. That’s a condition in which bones are so thin they break easily. If your bones keep getting thinner over time, though, osteopenia can turn into osteoporosis.

Is osteopenia a disability?

Like osteoporosis, there is no listing for osteopenia in the SSA’s Blue Book. However, just because there is no listing for it, doesn’t mean that you can’t qualify for disability with osteopenia. You can qualify for disability with osteopenia, your symptoms just need to match another listing in the SSA’s Blue Book.

What diseases can cause osteopenia?

Not only do bones lose density with age, medications used to treat breast cancer, arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s disease and Addison’s disease can also lower bone density. Some illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, hypopituaritism and eating disorders also cause bones to lose strength.

What foods to avoid with osteopenia?

Foods to limit or avoid

  • High-salt foods.
  • Alcohol. While a moderate amount of alcohol is considered safe for those with osteoporosis, excess alcohol can lead to bone loss.
  • Beans/legumes. While beans have some healthy attributes for women with osteoporosis, they’re also high in phytates.
  • Wheat bran.
  • Excess vitamin A.
  • Caffeine.

Can osteopenia go away?

There’s no cure for osteopenia, but it’s important to preserve bone density as much as possible. Treatment involves simple strategies to keep your bones as healthy and strong as possible and prevent progression to osteoporosis: Calcium treatment. Exercise.