Hill Country Health - Winter 2009 - (Page 6)

No Bones Osteoporosis prevention begins at any age About It T ! 6 he National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 44 million Americans are threatened by osteoporosis. is “silent disease” causes thinning and weakening of the bones without physical signs or symptoms. O en, the rst indicator of osteoporosis is a broken bone. Fractures result in a decreased quality of life and can lead to serious complications. Advanced osteoporosis results in pain, deformity and a decreased ability to perform the normal activities of daily life. Osteoporosis occurs in 55 percent of people older than 50, including both men and women. “While osteoporosis typically a ects older people, this disease can strike anyone, regardless of his or her ethnic background or age,” says Stuart Shapiro, M.D., CTMC orthopaedic surgeon. Certain personal factors can put you at higher risk. ey include: u Family history of osteoporosis u Low lifetime calcium intake or vitamin D de ciency u Use of certain medications, including corticosteroids, chemotherapy or anticonvulsants u Inactive lifestyle u Cigarette smoking u Excessive use of alcohol “ e good news is that there are bone mineral density tests that can detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs,” says Dr. Shapiro, who recommends a simple DEXA scan—dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry—for at-risk individuals. e scan, which uses low-level radiation to determine the density of your bones, is a painless, accurate test for diagnosing osteoporosis and determining your risk for future fractures. Now in Kyle! Dr. Stuart Shapiro and his partner, Dr. James Stanley, an orthopaedic spine surgeon, both of Central Texas Orthopaedic Specialists, are now seeing patients in Kyle. The physicians practice out of the CTMC ofﬁces at Plum Creek in Kyle. For appointments or more information, please call (512) 353-6400. BONE UP ON YOUR HEALTH! For more information about osteoporosis prevention and treatment, or to learn more about having a scan to detect the disease, call Dr. Stuart Shapiro’s ofﬁce at (512) 353-6400. Central Texas Medical Center • www.ctmc.org Prevention Starts Here Although there is no cure, you can take actions at any age to limit your risk factors and help prevent osteoporosis: u Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D3, including foods such as enriched, low-fat milk and dairy products, sardines, salmon, tuna and forti ed cereals. Ten to 15 minutes of sunlight a day is needed for vitamin D3 to be absorbed in the body. u Do weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, dancing, stair-climbing, soccer or tennis. u Do resistance exercises, such as free weights or weight machines. u Do not smoke, and limit alcohol intake. u Get bone-density testing at age 65 and older—sooner if you have increased risk factors such as family history, fragility fracture, or medical problems and medications that reduce bone strength. All postmenopausal women who su er a new fracture should have their bone density tested. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors for osteoporosis. Medications can help treat and prevent bone loss. ■ http://www.ctmc.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hill Country Health - Winter 2009

Hill Country Health - Winter 2009
A Banner Day
Image is Everything
That's the Spirit
Fabulous Fats
No Bones About It
CTMC Briefs
Life Plus

Hill Country Health - Winter 2009