SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS

April 14, 2011 in Osteoporosis
Tags: alcohol, anorexia nervosa, arthritis, bones, checklist, cigarette smoking, diet, disease, exercise, high-risk ethnic group, medications, menopause, osteoporosis, women

Having osteoporosis means your bones are fragile, and you’re more likely to break or fracture your hip, spine, or wrist.  Both men and women can be affected by the disease.  Here’s a checklist to evaluate your your risk factors for osteoporosis.  Share this list with your doctor to see if there’s anything you can do to take better care of your bones.

OSTEOPOROSIS RISK FACTOR CHECKLIST

o   Are you a woman?

Women have less bone tissue, and lose bone faster than men.

o   Have you gone through menopause?

The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis-especially after menopause.  Not only do your bones become thinner and weaker as you age, but declining estrogen levels can also contribute to the condition.

o   Are you skinny?

Small, thin-boned women are at a greater risk.

o   Are you in a high-risk ethnic group?

Caucasian and Asian women are at higher risk.  African American and Hispanic women have a lower but significant risk.

o   Did either of your parents break a bone?

People whose parents have a history of fractures also seem to be at risk for fractures.  Fractures may indicate that your parents either had osteoporosis or were at risk for it.

o   Do you have hormone troubles?

The absence of menstrual periods (amennorhea), low estrogen level (menopause) and low testosterone level in men can bring on osteoporosis.

o   Do you have an eating disorder?

Anorexia nervosa, a condition that causes sufferers to eat far too little and take in too few nutrients, increases your risk for osteoporosis.

o   Do you have a bad diet?

A lifetime diet low in calcium and vitamin D makes you more prone to bone loss.

o   Do you take any medications that can affect your bones?

Ask your doctor if any of the medications you may now take can affect the health of your bones.

o   Are you inactive?

Not exercising can weaken bones.

o   Do you smoke?

Smoking is bad for bones as well as the heart and lungs.

o   Do you drink?

Excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of bone loss and fractures.

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

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