WEAK BONES?

March 9, 2011 in Osteoporosis
Tags: asian, bone disease, break bone, caffeine, caucasian, chronic pain, cigarette smoking, diagnosis, disability, doses, estrogen deficiency, excercises, family history, fracture, fractures, grow older, lifestyle, low calcium, medications, men, muscle strength, patients, physicians, race, silent, spine, vitamin D, weak bones, weight-bearing, women, wrist

“I don’t have weak bones. I’m healthy and I feel great.”

This is a common statement encountered by many physicians today when patients are faced with the diagnosis of osteoporosis.  What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that affects both men and women, usually as they grow older. It is a silent disease of the bones that makes them weaken and prone to fracture. The disease is silent because there are no symptoms when you have osteoporosis, and the condition may come to your attention only after you break a bone. When you have osteoporosis, this can occur even after a minor injury, such as a fall. The most common fractures occur at the spine, wrist and hip. Spine and hip fractures in particular may lead to chronic pain, long-term disability and even death. The goal of treating osteoporosis is to prevent such fractures in the first place.  Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis and avoid the often-debilitating bone fractures that can result from this disease.

Some risk factors for developing osteoporosis are:

• increasing age
• sedentary lifestyle
• medications, especially corticosteroids
• thin frame (<127lbs)
• race (Caucasian, Asian)
• female gender
• early menopause
• positive family history
• cigarette smoking
• alcohol excess
• caffeine excess
• low calcium and/or vitamin D intake
• estrogen deficiency

A simple diagnostic test known as a bone density test or DEXA can provide valuable information about your bone strength.

To maintain bone health:

• Make sure there is enough calcium in your diet (1000 mg per day of calcium for adults under the age of 50 and 1200 mg per day for those ages 50 and older, which are the current recommended guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Foundation).
• Get adequate vitamin D intake, which is important for calcium absorption and to maintain muscle strength (400-800 IU per day for adults younger than age 50, 800 to 1000 IU per day for those age 50 and older, which are the current recommended guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Foundation). Doses may need to be adjusted according to blood levels of vitamin D.
• Get regular exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise.

A number of medications are also used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.  It is best to consult your physician to discuss which therapy is best for you.

Rodney Bluestone Medical doctors are rheumatology specialists located in Los Angeles, California. We provide treatment for all types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. For more information, including treatment and symptoms of arthritis, please visit www.rodneybluestonemedical.com