Last week, longtime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres announced that she had been diagnosed with osteoporosis, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
In her final Netflix special, “For Your Consideration,” DeGeneres, 66, revealed her triple diagnosis, revealing that she had a bone density test recommended by her doctor and was diagnosed with “full osteoporosis.” He said he understood.
“I don't even know how I'm standing right now. I'm like a human sandcastle. If I take a shower, it might collapse,” she told the audience.
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DeGeneres went on to admit, “It's hard to be honest about aging and look cool.”
Ellen DeGeneres will appear as a guest on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on May 4, 2021. Last week, longtime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres announced that she had been diagnosed with osteoporosis, OCD, and ADHD. (Terrence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images)
“One day I was in excruciating pain and thought I had torn a ligament or something, so I went for an MRI and they said, 'No, it's just arthritis.' Did you get that?’ And he said, ‘Oh, that just happens at your age,’” she said.
Dr. Gbolahan Okbadejo, a board-certified spine surgeon at the New Jersey Comprehensive Spine Care Institute, weighed in on DeGeneres' diagnosis.
“Ellen still seems to have great posture and seems very active and healthy,” he told FOX News Digital.
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“Depending on the degree of osteoporosis she has been diagnosed with, she has a great chance of living a normal life,” he continued.
“It's important for her to be a great patient by learning and following her doctor's recommendations for treatments and lifestyle modifications.”
What is osteoporosis?
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoporosis is “a bone disease that occurs when bone density and mass decrease or bone structure and strength changes.”
This disease can cause a decrease in bone strength, which can increase the risk of fractures.
According to the CDC, nearly 20% of women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.
“Osteoporosis occurs when the body loses too much bone mass or does not produce enough bone to maintain a healthy density,” Okubadejo says.
This causes bones to become weak and brittle.
“Certain people are more susceptible to osteoporosis, but it is often associated with aging, age-related hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, and mineral and vitamin deficiencies,” Okubadejo added.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common fractures in osteoporosis patients occur in the hips, wrists, and spine. (Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; iStock)
Osteoporosis makes bones so weak and brittle that even mild stress, such as falling or coughing, can cause a fracture, the Mayo Clinic reported.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 20% of women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.
Symptoms and risk factors
According to the Mayo Clinic, early stages of bone loss usually show no symptoms.
When bones become weaker, lower back pain, loss of height, hunched back, and fractures are more likely to occur.
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Osteoporosis can occur in men and women alike, but the Mayo Clinic notes that older women of Caucasian and Asian descent who have passed menopause are most at risk.
Smaller men and women tend to be more susceptible because “available bone mass decreases as we age,” the clinic noted.
According to the same source, this condition can also occur in people who have hormonal imbalances, have undergone gastrointestinal surgery, have low calcium intake, or experience eating disorders. It will be expensive.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Osteoporosis occurs when new bone formation cannot keep up with the loss of old bone.” (St. Petersburg)
People with a family history of osteoporosis may also face a higher risk.
People taking corticosteroids for conditions such as seizures, gastric reflux, cancer, or transplant rejection; patients with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, multiple myeloma, or rheumatoid arthritis. as well as more susceptible.
According to Okubadejo, the condition can be diagnosed through a bone density test or DEXA scan..
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“Patients with osteoporosis have 'thinner' bones, making them more susceptible to fractures from falls or low-intensity trauma.” Okubadejo told FOX News Digital.
“Some patients have low back pain, but others have asymptomatic 'microfractures' in the spine, and changes in posture that make them appear kyphotic (the upper back leans forward).”
Treatment and prevention
Osteoporosis can be caused by lifestyle choices such as being sedentary, drinking excessive alcohol, and smoking.
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“People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than people who are more active,” the Mayo Clinic reported.
Symptoms of osteoporosis include lower back pain, loss of height, hunched posture, and simple fractures. (St. Petersburg)
According to Okubadejo, bone density can be strengthened through regular strength training activities, so exercise is important for prevention.
“It's also important to minimize environmental and lifestyle risk factors that weaken bones, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption,” he added.
Good nutrition, especially calcium intake, is also essential to promoting healthy bones, experts advise.
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According to the Mayo Clinic, men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day. For women at age 50 and men at age 70, that amount increases to 1,200 milligrams.
Good sources of calcium include low-fat dairy products, green leafy vegetables, soy products such as tofu, calcium-fortified cereals, and orange juice.
Exercise is a widely recommended way to strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis. (St. Petersburg)
Adequate levels of vitamin D (found in some foods such as milk and fish, and in sunlight) can increase the body's ability to absorb calcium and improve bone health, according to the clinic. That's what it means.
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The source warns that too much calcium, especially from supplements, can lead to complications such as kidney stones and heart disease.
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Various drugs can help treat osteoporosis by strengthening and protecting bone mass.
“In addition to vitamin D and calcium, osteoporosis medications include bisphosphonates, hormone therapy, and selective estrogen receptor modulators,” Okbadejo told FOX News Digital.
“These drugs protect or help rebuild bone to maximize bone density and reduce the risk of overall bone damage.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to DeGeneres for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Ashley Hume contributed to this report.
