Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention

Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones as they become more porous; aka the ‘silent disease’

-begins in childhood, requires a bone-healthy diet and plenty of exercise

-for women, early prevention is especially important until age 50, when the protective effect of estrogen is lost.

Factors that CANNOT be changed:

Age >50 (aging is inevitable)

Gender (women at greatest risk)

Family History

Previous Fractures

Menopause/hysterectomy

Medications -proton pump inhibitors (antacids), antidepressants, anxiolytics, steroids (long term),chemo agents, thyroid hormone

Medical conditions- RA, COPD and asthma, diabetes, amenorrhea

Factors that you CAN change

Alcohol intake (women < 1 drink/day; men < 2 drinks/day)

Smoking

Low body weight BMI <19

Poor nutrition

Vit D deficiency

Eating disorder

Inactivity

Low dietary Calcium and Vitamin D

Testing when and how

Women with low force mechanical fractures hip, spine and wrist fractures are common; red flag for osteoporosis

Women with h/o amenorrhea or eating disorders

>65 years of age

Post menopausal

How?

FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool)

DEXA Bone Scan (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry)

Rating: T-score -1.0 and above is normal

Prevention and Management

Diet rich in calcium and Vit D

Weight-bearing exercise i.e. lifting weight, climbing stairs, dancing, hiking, and other anti-gravity exercises

Lessen alcohol intake

Quit smoking

Treatment

Medications -calcium, Vit D, Bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, zoledronic acid) Raloxifene and bazedoxifene Teriparatide and abaloparatide Denosumab Romosozumab Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)*

Weight-bearing exercise/activity

Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Take the questionnaire!

https://riskcheck.osteoporosis.foundation/?_ga=2.62514277.872207627.1596151716-1376846265.1596151716&_gac=1.196141918.1596151716.CjwKCAjw34n5BRA9EiwA2u9k347SleZPOzF_UjEtf8mxjl6guTYbjSpD9-c3ZAAmRxspDo9O9YNbeBoCA70QAvD_BwE

Check out this segment of 'Feel Good Fridays' which aired LIVE on July 31, 2020 on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Medicina-Del-Sol-LLC-106071261014495/

Reference

Switzerland; Nyon. International Osteoporosis Foundation (July 31, 2020) Retrieved from

https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/about-osteoporosis