Ellen Degeneres has osteoporosis: Here's what to know about the painful bone condition

Longtime speech amusement big Ellen DeGeneres announced past week that she has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, arsenic good arsenic OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

During her last Netflix peculiar "For Your Consideration," DeGeneres, 66, opened up astir her triple diagnosis, noting that she took a bony density trial recommended by her doc and learned she had "full-on osteoporosis."

"I don’t adjacent cognize however I’m lasting up close now. I’m similar a quality sandcastle. I could disintegrate successful the shower," she told the audience.

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DeGeneres went connected to admit that "it's hard to beryllium honorable astir aging and look cool." 

Ellen DeGeneres joins "The Late Late Show with James Corden" arsenic a impermanent connected May 4, 2021. The longtime speech amusement big announced past week that she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, arsenic good arsenic OCD and ADHD. (Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images)

"I had excruciating pain 1 time and I thought I tore a ligament oregon something, and I got an MRI, and they said, ‘No, it’s conscionable arthritis.’ I said, ‘How did I get that?’ And helium said, ‘Oh it conscionable happens astatine your age,'" she said.

Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, board-certified spine surgeon astatine The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care successful New Jersey, weighed successful connected Degeneres' diagnosis.

"Ellen inactive appears to person large posture and appears to beryllium precise active and healthy," helium told Fox News Digital. 

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"Depending connected the grade of osteoporosis she was diagnosed with, she has a large accidental to person a mean life," helium went on. 

"It's important for her to beryllium well-educated astir the treatments and lifestyle modifications recommended by her doctor, and beryllium a large diligent by pursuing those instructions."

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is simply a "bone illness that develops erstwhile bony mineral density and bony wide decreases, oregon erstwhile the operation and spot of bony changes," according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 

The illness tin pb to a alteration successful bony strength, which tin summation the hazard of breached bones.

Nearly 20% of women aged 50 and older person osteoporosis, according to the CDC.

"Osteoporosis occurs erstwhile the assemblage loses excessively overmuch bony wide oregon doesn't nutrient capable bony to support steadfast density," Okubadejo said.

This causes the bony to go anemic oregon brittle.

"Although definite populations are much susceptible to osteoporosis, it’s often associated with aging, hormonal changes associated with age, manner factors oregon mineral/vitamin deficiencies," added Okubadejo.

The astir communal breaks successful osteoporosis patients hap successful the hip, wrist and spine, according to Mayo Clinic. (Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; iStock)

Osteoporosis tin origin the bones to go truthful anemic and brittle that a autumn oregon adjacent mild accent similar coughing tin origin a break, Mayo Clinic reported.

Nearly 20% of women aged 50 and older person osteoporosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms and hazard factors

Early-stage bony nonaccomplishment typically does not amusement immoderate symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic.

Once bones are weakened, that tin pb to back pain, nonaccomplishment of height, stooped posture and casual bony breakage.

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Osteoporosis tin hap successful men and women alike, but Mayo Clinic specified that older achromatic and Asian women who are past menopause person the highest risk.

Men and women with tiny assemblage frames thin to beryllium much susceptible, arsenic they person "less bony wide to gully from arsenic they age," the session noted.

The information is besides much apt to hap successful radical who person hormone imbalances, person undergone gastrointestinal surgery, person debased calcium intake oregon acquisition disordered eating, according to the aforesaid source.

"Osteoporosis occurs erstwhile the instauration of caller bony doesn't support up with the nonaccomplishment of aged bone," according to Mayo Clinic. (iStock)

Those with a household past of osteoporosis whitethorn besides look a higher risk.

People who person taken corticosteroid medicines for conditions similar seizures, gastric reflux, crab and transplant rejection are much susceptible, arsenic are those with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney oregon liver disease, aggregate myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.

The information tin beryllium diagnosed by a bony density trial oregon DEXA scan, according to Okubadejo.

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"Patients with osteoporosis person 'thin' bones, truthful are much susceptible to suffering from fractures from falls oregon low-intensity trauma," Okubadejo told Fox News Digital.

"Some patients person backmost pain, portion others whitethorn person subclinical 'microfractures' successful the spine, with changes successful posture causing them to look kyphotic (stooped successful the precocious back)."

Treatment and prevention

Osteoporosis tin beryllium caused by manner choices specified arsenic being sedentary, consuming excessive alcohol consumption and utilizing tobacco.

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"People who walk a batch of clip sitting person a higher hazard of osteoporosis than bash those who are much active," Mayo Clinic reported.

Osteoporosis symptoms see backmost pain, nonaccomplishment of height, stooped posture and casual bony breakage. (iStock)

Exercise is captious for prevention, according to Okubadejo, arsenic bony density tin beryllium reinforced done regular strength training activities. 

"It's besides important to minimize biology and manner hazard factors that weaken bone, specified arsenic smoking oregon excessive intoxicant consumption," helium added.

Good nutrition is besides indispensable for promoting steadfast bones, specifically calcium intake, experts advise.

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Men and women betwixt the ages of 18 and 50 request 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, according to Mayo Clinic. That increases to 1,200 milligrams erstwhile women deed 50 and men scope 70.

Good sources of calcium see low-fat dairy products, leafy greenish vegetables, soy products similar tofu, calcium-fortified cereals and orangish juice.

Exercise is simply a wide recommended mode to fortify the bones and forestall osteoporosis. (iStock)

Sufficient levels of vitamin D — which tin beryllium recovered successful immoderate foods similar beverage and fish, arsenic good arsenic sunlight — tin boost the body’s quality to sorb calcium and amended bony health, according to the clinic.

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Too overmuch calcium, particularly successful supplements, tin origin complications similar kidney stones and heart disease, the aforesaid root warned.

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Various medications tin assistance dainty osteoporosis by strengthening and protecting bony mass.

"In summation to vitamin D and calcium, different medications to dainty osteoporosis see bisphosphonates, hormone therapy and selective estrogen receptor modulators," Okubadejo told Fox News Digital. 

"These medications support bony oregon assistance to physique it backmost up, successful an effort to maximize bony density and little the hazard of bony wounded overall."

Fox News Digital reached retired to Degeneres for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Hume contributed to this report.