May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month & Prevention Month, and I recently had a speaking engagement at the Andara Assisted Living facility in Scottsdale regarding this very topic. As the heading of this topic goes, osteoporosis is no joking matter. Laughing and even sneezing can break brittle bones. I am here to give you the lowdown on osteoporosis prevention and diagnosis because a fracture can change your life in an instant. If you think this is a disease of the elderly, you would be right. But, prevention starts at an early age.
- 1 out of every 2 women over the age of 50 is at risk for osteoporosis or low bone density and will suffer a major osteoporotic fracture (arms, ribs, hips, and spine). Men, you are not excluded as 1 out of every 4 men carries the same risk. This is a silent disease and killer, as 25% die within 6 months of a hip fracture.
- There are two million cases of preventable fractures in the US every year. Every 20 seconds someone in this country will have an osteoporotic fracture!
- 70% of the people with osteoporosis have not been screened so they aren’t even aware of the perils that lurk ahead in the future. A bone mineral density test, also called a DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan, can help diagnose you with having osteopenia (decreased bone density) or osteoporosis (brittle or porous bone). Be sure to also obtain a FRAX FORE Fracture Risk Calculator score by clicking this link.
- Bone remodeling happens every 7-10 years. Osteoclasts (bone breakers) and osteoblasts (bone builders) are responsible for this remodeling that happens in all of us throughout our lifetime. When osteoclasts are breaking down bone quicker than osteoblasts are building bone is when we get osteopenia and osteoporosis. If you are having low testosterone or are going through perimenopause/menopause, talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy that is balanced and bio-identical.
- We reach peak bone mass around 30 years of age and kids build much of their bones around the time of puberty. This is all done with the help of hormones like testosterone and estrogen/progesterone in males and females, respectively. As you age, these hormones decline and subsequently cause a decline in the osteoblast activity.
- As I mentioned in the Vitamin D and Calcium article published earlier this year, these are very important in your bone health, and getting enough of this can be problematic for most Americans. Curbing any excessive alcohol consumption and quitting smoking are other beneficial ways to decrease your risk of bone loss.
- Weight-bearing activity plays a large role in your ability to build strong bones. Exercise is not only for cardio health but for bone health as well. But remember that swimming, riding a bike, or any other exercise where gravity is taken out of the equation is not helping your bones stay strong. Yoga and Pilates are great ways to perform weight-bearing exercises.
- Strengthening exercises like doing squats are a great way to increase fall prevention. Also getting rid of throw rugs, paying attention to where you walk, and keeping an eye on your pets are simple techniques to help prevent falls.
- There are many ways for the treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis, but that is for another long discussion. However, one of the best treatments is for Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT. This is optimally achieved using hormone balanced and bio-identical type of hormones.
- If you are on any medications, please consult with your doctor regarding whether they can be causing bone loss. Some examples of medications known to cause bone loss are:
– Heartburn medications like Nexium, Prilosec, Zantac, Pepcid, and others.
– Anti-depressants like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro and others.
– Chemotherapy drugs.
– Drugs used in Rheumatoid Arthritis and other auto-immune conditions like Methotrexate and Cyclosporine, as well as others.
– High doses of Thyroid replacement medications.
– Lithium, which is used for bipolar disorder.
– Anti-seizure medications like Dilantin (Phenytoin).
– Anti-coagulants like Heparin
– And the worst of the bunch, steroids like Prednisone and others.
At Desert Mobile Medical, we are always here for you to answer any questions that may arise from this or any other medical conditions.
We are here to help you in your path to a brighter and more fruitful future, one that increases your quality of life, one step at a time. Call us at (480) 331-2699 or email us at admin@desertmobilemedical.com.
– Anti-depressants like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro and others.
– Chemotherapy drugs.
– Drugs used in Rheumatoid Arthritis and other auto-immune conditions like Methotrexate and Cyclosporine, as well as others.
– High doses of Thyroid replacement medications.
– Lithium, which is used for bipolar disorder.
– Anti-seizure medications like Dilantin (Phenytoin).
– Anti-coagulants like Heparin
– And the worst of the bunch, steroids like Prednisone and others.
At Desert Mobile Medical, we are always here for you to answer any questions that may arise from this or any other medical conditions.
We are here to help you in your path to a brighter and more fruitful future, one that increases your quality of life, one step at a time. Call us at (480) 331-2699 or email us at admin@desertmobilemedical.com.
