Understanding the Differences Between Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are two common age-related diseases. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 12% of adults aged 50 and over suffer from osteoporosis. Osteoarthritis, however, is even more common. Some statistics show that nearly one-quarter of all adults aged 50 and older suffer from it. What's the difference between these two age-related diseases exactly?

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease. It's characterized by the gradual and progressive loss of bone tissue. The bones in our body are made of minerals like calcium phosphate. Some of these minerals are naturally lost, but our bodies typically replenish them. People who suffer from osteoporosis, though, lose bone minerals more quickly than the rate at which their bodies can replenish them. This results in weaker and brittler bones that are susceptible to fracture.

What Is Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease. It's characterized by the gradual and progressive loss of cartilage in the joints. Joints, of course, are parts of the body where two or more bones connect. Bones aren't directly connected to other bones. Rather, they are joined with cartilage at a joint. Osteoarthritis involves the loss of this cartilage while subsequently causing arthritis-related symptoms like pain, swelling and loss of mobility in the affected joint or joints.

Differences Between Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis

While they are both age-related diseases, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis aren't the same Osteoporosis affects the bones, whereas osteoarthritis affects the joints. As a result, osteoporosis is typically a body-wide condition. If you suffer from osteoporosis, you'll feel it throughout your entire bones. Osteoarthritis generally only affects one or more joints.

Osteoporosis is also linked more closely to aging than osteoarthritis. The risk for both of these diseases increases with age. Nonetheless, younger adults may develop osteoarthritis. In comparison, osteoporosis almost always occurs in older adults.

Treatment for osteoporosis is different than the treatment for osteoarthritis. To treat osteoporosis, most physicians recommend lifestyle changes that include the increased consumption of calcium-rich foods combined with weight-bearing or resistant exercises. To treat osteoarthritis, most physicians recommend anti-inflammatory drugs or other arthritis-related medication.

As previously mentioned, osteoarthritis is more common than osteoporosis. It's estimated that roughly one in four people will develop it during their lifetime. Osteoporosis is common as well, but it's not as common as osteoarthritis. These are just a few ways that the two diseases differ.