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Osteoporosis is serious disease
that affects nearly 10 million Americans, 80% of whom are female. Normally, new
bone is laid down in adults at the same rate as old bone is reabsorbed into the body.
In osteoporosis, however, the rate of bone reabsorption is much greater than the rate of new bone formation. This results in fragile bones that are more likely to break. This sort of bone loss is very common in the
4th or 5th decade of life. If not prevented or if left
untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically
in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Although any bone can be
affected, a fracture of the hip or spine is the most serious. A hip fracture
usually requires hospitalization and major surgery. It impairs the patient’s ability to walk and may cause disability
or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and
deformity.
Because there is currently no cure for osteoporosis, prevention is very
important. The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable for most people. Building
strong bones before the age of 30 and keeping them healthy is the best defense against developing osteoporosis. How can you do that? By understanding your risk for osteoporosis
and taking care of your bones.
Risk factors of Osteoporosis:
- Female gender (however, men can have it too)
- Age over 65 years or postmenopausal
- Thin and small body size
- Caucasian or Asian ethnicity
- Family history of osteoporosis
- History of fracture
- Smoking
- Lack of Vitamin D or calcium in diet
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| A typical BMD Screening test |
If you have
one or more of these risk factors and are concerned about your risk of osteoporosis, you should consider a bone mineral density
(BMD) Screening. Early detection of osteoporosis is key to preventing fractures. We can perform a BMD Screening at Rxtra Care and explain the results while teaching
you important facts about bone health. The screening involves a simple, painless
analysis of the thickness of your heel bone, which is indicative of your fracture risk. Getting your daily recommended amounts
of calcium and vitamin D is also very important to maintaining healthy bones. According
to the drugs and supplements you take in addition to what type of diet you have, we can recommend products and help you determine
the correct amounts of calcium and vitamin D supplements you should be taking. Engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise
and avoiding smoking and alcohol are also important to bone health.
Contact us
and watch our website for a list of BMD screening dates coming soon!
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