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I have just come face to face with another side effect of Graves' Disease. The results of a recent bone scan show that at in my mid-forties, I have the bones of an old woman, very close to osteoporosis. Hyperthyroidism increases the metabolism not only of calories but also of bones. It is suspected that in this state in increased metabolism the bone cells (osteoblasts) are not replaced as quickly as they are destroyed. In other words, the body cannot keep up with the demand and the result is loss of bone density.
The media has helped educate women on the need for estrogen and calcium to help prevent this disease, but rarely includes the risk related to hyperthyroidism. According to research, the risk is even greater for women who are already post-menopausal and have hyperthyroidism. There is some suggestion that too much replacement hormone, thyroxine or synthetic T4, may also cause some bone loss. The good news is that the occurrence of fractures in patients with hyperthyroidism induced osteoporosis is relatively low and the deficiencies in bone mass may be reversed with treatment for thyroid disease. In my thirties, I was treated for endometriosis with two separate medications that induced menopause for up to six months. Then in my early forties, I gave in and had my ovaries removed to control the disease and the pain. When I developed Graves' Disease recently, that was the third strike against me. With the added risk of a family history of osteoporosis, I requested a bone density test. Are you at risk for osteoporosis? There are no early warning signs. If you have hyperthyroidism and are a woman in menopause, that's two risk factors right there. To check out others and learn more about osteoporosis, see What is Osteoporosis?
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The copyright of the article Osteoporosis in Thyroid Disease is owned by Keri. Permission to republish Osteoporosis in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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