Does osteoporosis make you tired? 

Many people are unaware that they have osteoporosis until they have several fractures.  So, a diagnosis can leave you wondering if you have other symptoms of the disease, including whether osteoporosis makes you tired. The quick answer is that no, osteoporosis doesn’t cause tiredness and fatigue. Yet, fatigue may result from pain, fractures, postural changes, medication side effects, or simply that you’re no longer as active.  

If you are feeling exhausted, it is a good idea to understand how sleep can impact your bone density.  

Osteoporosis and fatigue 

If you have fatigue or feel tired with osteoporosis, then it is likely that something else is triggering the fatigue. By looking at the bigger picture of what’s happening in your life, you may be able to resolve the fatigue and simultaneously help protect your bones.  

Osteoporosis is most common in post-menopausal women. This is because oestrogen plays an important role in growing and maturing bones. As your oestrogen levels drop, there is a greater risk of osteoporosis. At the same time, your hormone levels also play an important part in your energy levels. Both fatigue and insomnia are symptoms of both peri- and post-menopause.  

Of course, there are other factors to consider if you do feel fatigued. It could be a result of poor sleep hygiene, imbalances in your diet, or a virus causing the issue. However, sleep plays an important role in both osteoporosis and cell regeneration.  

How does your body feel when you have osteoporosis? 

One of the first signs of osteoporosis is broken bones, which can be painful and debilitating. Yet, many people can live with osteoporosis and be unaware of the condition unless they have a bone density scan.  

Osteoporosis can also give you lower back pain along the lumbar region and result in a change in your posture. This is caused by the lower bone density of the spine, which can also impact your height as you age, along with many other contributing factors.  

Osteoporosis can make movement painful. You may feel stiff and have bruising or swelling if you’ve recently had an injury or fall.  The only way to know what is happening in your bones is with a bone density scan and an expert clinical diagnosis.  

Osteoporosis and sleep  

Sleep has a big impact on your bone health. Research finds that disrupted sleep, including sleep apnoea, night shifts, and insomnia, can have a detrimental impact on your bone health.  

One particular study looked at the bone turnover markers in nurses on shift work. Bone turnover markers show the level of bone cells in the body and whether they are being formed or reabsorbed into the body. These are measured in the blood and urine.  

We have high levels of bone turnover markers during the night when we sleep, and they are at their lowest during the day. The Nurses’ Health Study looked at postmenopausal women who had worked night shifts for over 20 years. It found a 37% increased risk of hip and wrist fractures compared to nurses who had never worked a night shift.  

Does the length of sleep impact bone density?  

How long you sleep also impacts your bone density, regardless of your work patterns or sleep disruption.  

A large-scale study of 11, 084 women found that post-menopausal women had a lower bone density mass when they had less than five hours’ sleep each night. These women were also at greater risk of osteoporosis. A study of over 3,000 post-menopausal women in China also had similar results. In this study, shorter sleep was defined as less than six hours and included taking a daytime nap.  

However, getting too much sleep may also impact your bone health. A 2017 meta-analysis of women who slept longer than eight hours a night found a higher risk of osteoporosis in women between 40 and 86 years old.  

The findings on length of sleep and bone density are not conclusive, and there may be other factors at play, such as time and quality of sleep, plus lifestyle choices. Getting good quality sleep at night, that is neither too long nor too short, seems to have a positive impact on bone health.  

Circadian rhythm and bone health 

We do know that the circadian rhythm plays a strong role in your body’s ability to heal itself. When we sleep, our cells are at their most active in healing any damage. During the daytime, our cells are at their least active for this healing process.  

A study by Dr Margit Egg et al found that MBST resets cells to their circadian rhythm, therefore increasing the healing potential of the damaged cells in your bones. Our clinical partners and patients have seen an increase in bone density because of using MBST for osteoporosis. It has been life-changing for many people. Find out more about how MBST can help with bone health.  

Does osteoporosis make you tired?  

Getting the right amount of good-quality sleep, in line with your circadian rhythm, contributes to healthy bones as it creates optimal conditions for your bones to regenerate.  

If you have fatigue, it is worth looking at ways you can improve your quality of sleep and reset the circadian rhythm at a cellular level. This will help protect your bone health for the long term.  

Get in touch with your nearest MBST clinic here.  

References:  

Sleep Disruptions and Bone Health: What Do We Know So Far? 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S245196502100051X