Health
Ellen DeGeneres has osteoporosis: Here's what to know about the painful bone condition
Longtime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres announced last week that she has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, as well as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
During her final Netflix special “For Your Consideration,” DeGeneres, 66, opened up about her triple diagnosis, noting that she took a bone density test recommended by her doctor and learned she had “full-on osteoporosis.”
“I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now. I’m like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower,” she told the audience.
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DeGeneres went on to admit that “it’s hard to be honest about aging and seem cool.”
Ellen DeGeneres joins “The Late Late Show with James Corden” as a guest on May 4, 2021. The longtime talk show host announced last week that she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, as well as OCD and ADHD. (Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images)
“I had excruciating pain one day and I thought I tore a ligament or something, and I got an MRI, and they said, ‘No, it’s just arthritis.’ I said, ‘How did I get that?’ And he said, ‘Oh it just happens at your age,’” she said.
Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, board-certified spine surgeon at The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care in New Jersey, weighed in on DeGeneres’ diagnosis.
“Ellen still appears to have great posture and appears to be very active and healthy,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“Depending on the degree of osteoporosis she was diagnosed with, she has a great chance to have a normal life,” he went on.
“It’s important for her to be well-educated about the treatments and lifestyle modifications recommended by her doctor, and be a great patient by following those instructions.”
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a “bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes,” according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
The disease can lead to a decrease in bone strength, which can increase the risk of broken bones.
Nearly 20% of women aged 50 and older have osteoporosis, according to the CDC.
“Osteoporosis occurs when the body loses too much bone mass or doesn’t produce enough bone to maintain healthy density,” Okubadejo said.
This causes the bone to become weak or brittle.
“Although certain populations are more vulnerable to osteoporosis, it’s often associated with aging, hormonal changes associated with age, lifestyle factors or mineral/vitamin deficiencies,” added Okubadejo.
The most common breaks in osteoporosis patients occur in the hip, wrist and spine, according to Mayo Clinic. (Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; iStock)
Osteoporosis can cause the bones to become so weak and brittle that a fall or even mild stress like coughing can cause a break, Mayo Clinic reported.
Nearly 20% of women aged 50 and older have osteoporosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms and risk factors
Early-stage bone loss typically does not show any symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic.
Once bones are weakened, that can lead to back pain, loss of height, stooped posture and easy bone breakage.
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Osteoporosis can occur in men and women alike, but Mayo Clinic specified that older white and Asian women who are past menopause have the highest risk.
Men and women with small body frames tend to be more susceptible, as they have “less bone mass to draw from as they age,” the clinic noted.
The condition is also more likely to occur in people who have hormone imbalances, have undergone gastrointestinal surgery, have low calcium intake or experience disordered eating, according to the same source.
“Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone,” according to Mayo Clinic. (iStock)
Those with a family history of osteoporosis may also face a higher risk.
People who have taken corticosteroid medicines for conditions like seizures, gastric reflux, cancer and transplant rejection are more susceptible, as are those with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.
