Family Doctor 2008

OSTEOPOROSIS seniors Age gracefully: Take care of your bones While you can’t avoid losing bone mass as you age, the right diet and physical activity can help you reduce your risk of osteoporosis, the silent bone killer. By Anne L. Rubeck to see if they are becoming porous. is better Steps to reduce your risk: If you’re a smoker, stop. Your doctor can provide you with information and advice to help. ● Get plenty of physical activity. If you’re not sure exercise is safe for you or if you’re currently inactive, talk to your doctor ﬁrst. ● If you’re taking an oral steroid medicine, ask your doctor about what you can do to prevent bone loss. ● Make sure you get plenty of calcium in your diet, or take a calcium with vitamin D supplement. ● Calcium and Vitamin D are key of To reduce your risk osteoporosis, calcium day. The OsteoFoundamake sure you get enough every National porosis The bones become porous because of a lack of calcium. Osteoporosis is much more common in women than in men because women have less bone mass. Also, women tend to live longer than men, take in less calcium and need estrogen to keep bones strong. But men are also at risk of getting osteoporosis later in life. O steoporosis refers to a loss of bone mass that makes bones more brittle and prone to breaks and fractures. What you need to know T tion recommends that adults under age 50 should get 1,000 mg of calcium daily, and adults aged 50 and over should get 1,200 mg of calcium daily. It much is usually calcium best to get as as possible from food. Nonfat and he most common risk factors for osteoporosis include: ● Early menopause (before age 48). ● Surgery to remove both ovaries before menopause. ● Not getting enough calcium. ● Not getting enough exercise. ● Smoking. ● Osteoporosis in your family. ● Alcohol abuse. ● Thin body and small bone frame. ● Fair skin (white or some Asian races). ● Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid). ● Long-term use of oral steroids. Breaking down osteoporosis A person’s total bone mass peaks around age 30. After this, all adults start to lose bone mass. In women, the rate of bone loss speeds up after menopause, when low-fat dairy products are good sources of calcium. Other sources of calcium include dried beans, sardines and broccoli. estrogen levels fall. Since the ovaries make estrogen, faster bone loss may also occur if both ovaries are removed by surgery. Unfortunately, you may not know you have osteoporosis until you see some serious signs. These include broken bones, low back pain or a hunched back. Some people get shorter with time because osteoporosis can cause the vertebrae in the back to collapse. If you don’t get enough calcium from the food you eat, your doctor may suggest taking a calcium supplement that contains vitamin D. Vitamin D helps your body use calcium to keep your bones strong. Your doctor can tell you how much vitamin D is safe for you to take each day. Anne L. Rubeck is an editor living in Overland Park, Kan. Know your risk factors risk factors that apply to you. Certain factors increase your risk of osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about any of the Osteoporosis (or the risk of it) can often be diagnosed without testing; however, your doctor may order a bone density test. This is an easy, painless procedure in which the doctor examines a “picture” of your bones ADDITIONAL INFORMATION © WWW.123RF.COM American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/136.xml National Osteoporosis Foundation http://www.nof.org/ National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases http://www.niams.nih.gov/bone/hi/overview.htm familydoctor 2008 125 http://familydoctor.org/136.xml http://www.nof.org/ http://www.niams.nih.gov/bone/hi/overview.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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