Issue Date: July 17, 2005
Beat osteoporosis
Diet, exercise and medications can keep bones strong and healthy.
As our population ages, diseases associated with aging are on the rise. One of the most problematic is osteoporosis, which affects millions of Americans, many of whom are unaware they even have it. From childhood through young adulthood, our bones grow stronger and denser. By about age 30, most of us have achieved our "peak bone mass." From then on it's all downhill!
Osteoporosis in the elderly is easy to spot -- picture a little old woman (or man) hunched over at the neck. Unfortunately, by the time it's gotten to this stage, it's more difficult to treat, and complications already may have set in. Those who suffer from osteoporosis are at a significantly increased risk of fracturing their bones, sometimes with nothing more than their own body weight.
Physicians have become more aggressive about identifying those at risk and initiating treatment for those who need it. Here are several factors that we know increase the risk of osteoporosis:
Race. Caucasian and Asian women seem to be more likely to develop osteoporosis than African-American women.
Body weight. Small, thin-boned men and women are at higher risk.
Sex. A 30-year-old woman is likely to have less bone mass than a 30-year-old man does.
Estrogen deficiency. There's a link between the loss of estrogen after menopause and the development of osteoporosis. Women at this age should be tested to evaluate the integrity of their bones.
Age. Both men and women are at risk of "senile osteoporosis," which occurs when the cellular activity that produces new bone diminishes. Hip fractures seem to be more common with this type of osteoporosis.
Genetics. People who have parents or grandparents with osteoporosis should be screened.
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Boost your bones
If you're at risk of osteoporosis, or if you already have bone loss, here's what you can do to boost your skeletal system:
Bulk up. Do weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, StairMaster, etc. Strength training helps prevent further bone loss, and balance exercises can reduce the likelihood of falling.
Use medications. Post-menopausal women at high risk of osteoporosis may wish to consider estrogen therapy, "designer" estrogens or other drugs that help rebuild lost bone. Your doctor can design a program for your specific needs.
Limit alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. Alcohol not only compromises bone health, but it also raises the risk of falling. Caffeine consumption and smoking also are related to diminished bone mass.
Eat calcium-rich foods and take supplements if necessary. Try to get 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily, as well as 800 IUs of vitamin D.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is the medical director of the Wellness Program of Dallas' Cooper Clinic.
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