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Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention
Did you know most Americans are not aware of their risk for
osteoporosis or the steps they can take to prevent, diagnose and
treat the disease? This is even more disturbing in light of the fact
that osteoporosis and low bone mass are a major public health threat
effecting 44 million American women and men age 50 and older. With
one in two women and one in four men in this age group at risk for
osteoporosis-related fractures, it is imperative that we motivate
the public to take action now.
Five Steps to Bone Health and Osteoporosis Prevention are:
• Get your daily recommended
amounts of calcium and vitamin D
• Engage in regular
weight-bearing exercise
• Avoid smoking and excessive
alcohol
• Talk to your doctor about
bone health
• Have a bone density test and
take medication when appropriate
Who's at Risk?
There are many factors that determine who will develop
osteoporosis. The first step in prevention is to determine whether
you are at risk, since not everyone is. The risk factors are:
Age. The older you are, the greater your risk of
osteoporosis. Your bones become weaker and less dense as you age.
Gender. Your chances of developing osteoporosis are greater
if you are a woman. Women have less bone tissue and lose bone more
rapidly than men because of the changes involved in menopause.
Family History and Personal History of Fractures as an Adult.
Susceptibility to fracture may be, in part, hereditary. Young women
whose mothers have a history of vertebral fractures also seem to
have reduced bone mass. A personal history of a fracture as an adult
also increases your fracture risk.
Race. Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop
osteoporosis. However, African American and Hispanic women are at
significant risk for developing the disease.
Bone Structure and Body Weight. Small-boned and thin women
(under 127 pounds) are at greater risk.
Menopause/Menstrual History. Normal or early menopause
(brought about naturally or because of surgery) increases your risk
of developing osteoporosis. In addition, women who stop menstruating
before menopause because of conditions such as anorexia or bulimia,
or because of excessive physical exercise, may also lose bone tissue
and develop osteoporosis.
Lifestyle. Current cigarette smoking, drinking too much
alcohol, consuming an inadequate amount of calcium or getting little
or no weight-bearing exercise, increases your chances of developing
osteoporosis.
Medications/Chronic Diseases. A significant and often
overlooked risk factor in the development of osteoporosis is the use
of certain medications to treat chronic medical conditions.
Medications to treat disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis,
endocrine disorders (i.e. an under-active thyroid), seizure
disorders and gastrointestinal diseases may have side effects that
can damage bone and lead to osteoporosis.
One class of drugs that has particularly damaging effects on the
skeleton is glucocorticoids. The following drugs also can cause bone
loss:
• excessive thyroid
hormones
• anticonvulsants
• antacids containing
aluminum
• gonadotropin releasing
hormones (GnRH) used for treatment of endometriosis
• methotrexate for
cancer treatment
• cyclosporine A, an
immunosuppressive drug
• heparin and
• cholestyramine, taken
to control blood cholesterol levels.
For many people, these are life-saving or life-enhancing drugs, and
their use may be the only way to achieve a better quality of life.
That's why it is important to discuss the use of these medications
with your physician and not stop or alter your medication dose on
your own.
It is important to take action now to find out your risk for
developing osteoporosis. Your doctor can help you determine
whether you should have a BMD (Bone Mineral Density) test. Your
doctor may order a BMD test for:
• all postmenopausal
women under age 65 who have one or more additional risk factors for
osteoporosis (in addition to being postmenopausal and female)
• all women age 65 and
older regardless of additional risk factors
• postmenopausal women
who present with fractures (to confirm diagnosis and determine
disease severity).
• women who are
considering therapy for osteoporosis if BMD testing would facilitate
the decision.
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