| Osteoporosis is a disease that no one seems to be | | | | - Abnormal absence of menstrual periods |
| aware of until it's too late. Sure you've heard the | | | | (amenorrhea) |
| term "Osteoporosis" but are you aware of how | | | | - Anorexia nervosa |
| quickly it could end your independent living and | | | | - Vitamin D deficiency |
| forever change your quality of life? The devastating | | | | - Use of certain medications (corticosteroids, |
| health effects of Osteoporosis may be just as | | | | chemotherapy, anticonvulsants and others) |
| debilitating as cardiovascular disease and cancer. | | | | The statistics for osteoporosis related fractures is |
| Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease | | | | downright scary - according to the NOF, A woman's |
| characterized by low bone mass and structural | | | | risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of |
| deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility | | | | breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. And 24 percent of |
| and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially | | | | hip fracture patients aged 50 and over DIE in the |
| of the hip, spine and wrist, although any bone can be | | | | year following their fracture. |
| affected. | | | | A broken bone is not something most people even |
| It is a disease that affects 1 in every 2 women! | | | | consider will bring an end to their independent living - |
| Unfortunately -- many women do not even realize | | | | yet it happens. 1 out of every 5 hip fractures will end |
| they are suffering from the disease until a sudden | | | | up living the remainder of their years in a nursing |
| strain, fall or bump results in a collapsed vertebrae or | | | | home because they are no longer able to live |
| broken bone. (Note: A sudden loss of height, severe | | | | independently. |
| back pain, or stooped posture are all signs of a | | | | Is this how you want to live out the last 30 - 40 |
| collapsed vertebra.) | | | | years of your life? I don't think so! |
| Bones, like muscle, are highly complex living tissue, | | | | Fortunately - there are "proven" preventive |
| they are not just hard and lifeless structures. They | | | | measures you can take to help prevent osteoporosis |
| are dependent on proper diet and exercise just as | | | | and reduce your risk of fractures. |
| any other organ in your body. | | | | One Proven measure you can take is the |
| Your bones provide the structural support for your | | | | incorporation of aerobic, weight bearing and |
| muscles and vital organs. They help make the | | | | resistance exercise! Just another reason for you to |
| foundation in which you exist, and how well you take | | | | get off your chair and go for a walk during lunch. |
| care of your bones will determine how long they will | | | | The results of the Bone, Estrogen and Strength |
| support you. | | | | (BEST) study funded by the National Institute of |
| As part of the aging process -- your bones will | | | | Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases |
| eventually reach a point where they will break down | | | | (NIAMS) demonstrated that aerobic, weight-bearing |
| faster than they can repair themselves - this | | | | and resistance exercise improves bone mineral |
| generally starts to occur around 35 years of age. | | | | density (BMD) in post menopausal women whether |
| To make matters worse the deterioration of bone | | | | or not they use hormone therapy. The study shows |
| occurs at a faster rate once you have transitioned | | | | that specific strength training and resistance |
| through menopause. In fact, women can lose up to | | | | exercises can retard and even reverse bone loss in |
| 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven | | | | healthy post menopausal women, and that estrogen |
| years following menopause, making them more | | | | replacement is not necessary to gain the benefit of |
| susceptible to osteoporosis. Which is why 50% of all | | | | the exercise. |
| women after the age of 50 develop the disease, and | | | | A second Proven measure is to consume a well |
| most are not even aware of it. | | | | balanced diet rich in vitamin D and calcium. As you |
| The best way to determine whether or not you are | | | | already know calcium is vital to bone health but what |
| at risk of Osteoporosis is with a bone mineral density | | | | you may not know is that the relationship between |
| (BMD) test. This test can measure bone density in | | | | calcium absorption and vitamin D is similar to that of a |
| various sites of the body and will be help you | | | | locked door and a key. Vitamin D is the key that |
| determine the following: | | | | unlocks the door and allows calcium to leave the |
| - Identify osteoporosis before a fracture occurs | | | | intestine and enter the bloodstream. Vitamin D also |
| - Forecast your risk of a potential fracture in the | | | | works in the kidneys to help resorb calcium that |
| future | | | | otherwise would be excreted. |
| - Determine rate of bone loss when the test is | | | | The body's ability to produce Vitamin D decreases |
| performed at least once a year. | | | | with age and national surveys have shown that many |
| In the United States today it is estimated that some | | | | women consume less than half of the daily |
| 10 million individuals already have osteoporosis and 18 | | | | recommended amount of calcium. So you may need |
| million more have low bone mass, placing them at | | | | to start thinking about supplementing your diet with |
| increased risk for this disease. There are some | | | | both of these vital vitamins! |
| known risk factors that may help you determine | | | | Whether you supplement your diet with Vitamin D |
| whether or not you should ask your doctor about a | | | | and Calcium rich foods or a multi-vitamin it's |
| (BMD) test. | | | | recommended for your bone health that you get |
| Some risk factors noted by the National | | | | between 400 and 800 international units (IU) of |
| Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) are: | | | | vitamin D and at least 1200mg of calcium a day. |
| - An inactive lifestyle | | | | Some other measures you can take to further |
| - Low estrogen as a result of menopause. | | | | reduce your risk of Osteoporosis are: |
| - Having a small frame and/or excessive thinness. | | | | - No Smoking or excessive alcohol intake. |
| - Being Female | | | | - An open discussion with your primary care provider |
| - Personal history of fracture after the age of 50. | | | | about bone health. |
| - A lifetime of low calcium intake. | | | | - Bone density testing. |
| - Excessive use of alcohol and cigarette smoking. | | | | By incorporating the above measures into your life |
| - History of fracture in an immediate relative | | | | you will be taking the necessary steps to provide |
| - Advanced age | | | | your bones with what they need to support you |
| - A family history of osteoporosis | | | | throughout the rest of your life. |