In Good Health - Spring 2012 - Fairview - (Page 9)

I F YOU’RE A GRANDMOTHER, your kids likely rely on you to baby-sit the grandkids, be a supportive shoulder to lean on, and occasionally provide an extra pair of hands around the house. For some women, especially those who are postmenopausal, a condition called osteoporosis can make it difﬁcult to take part in such active tasks. Osteoporosis affects some women as they age, weakening bones and making them more liable to break. One of the key steps to ﬁghting bone loss is getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D each day. “In postmenopausal women, the recommended daily dose of calcium is 1,200 milligrams and vitamin D is 800–1,000 international units [IUs],” says Dr. Al-Ashkar. She also says that patients who meet their daily requirements of calcium from dietary sources do not need to take additional calcium supplements. Blythe Danner is one such woman facing the potentially disabling condition. When the Tony-winning actress and devoted grandmother was diagnosed with postmenopausal osteoporosis at increased risk for fractures, Danner learned she had to take immediate action to preserve her active family life. “When I’m with my grandchildren, we do a lot of running around,” the 69-year-old says about her relationship with Apple and Moses, the children of her daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow. “So I met with my doctor who I’m working with now on a plan.” A plan is exactly what Feyrouz Al-Ashkar, MD, FACR, CCD, who specializes in treating rheumatic and immunologic disease at Cleveland Clinic Lorain Family Health and Surgery Center, recommends. “All women should receive counseling on the risk factors for fracture,” she says. “People might not know they have osteoporosis because bone loss occurs without symptoms.” Danner talked with In Good Health about the reasons grandmothers especially should prioritize their bone health. Dr. Al-Ashkar shares advice for what steps to take. REASON #3: You want to keep your independence as you age. One in two women older than 50 will experience a fracture related to osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. And that can lead to a major loss of independence. “When I heard that number I was really kind of shocked,” Danner says. Most osteoporosis-related fractures are of the hip, wrist and spine. Hip fractures are particularly devastating, according to Dr. Al-Ashkar. “A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery,” she says. “It can impair a person’s ability to walk unassisted and might cause prolonged or permanent disability.” Despite these scary possibilities, Danner doesn’t worry about osteoporosis controlling her life. “It is a disease,” she says, “but I don’t think of it as something that really limits me.” Danner says she feels conﬁdent now after developing a regimen with her physician to strengthen her bones, exercise, eat a proper diet and get enough rest. Now she wants other women to feel conﬁdent, too. She shares this advice: “See your doctor, get there regularly, and get a plan to strengthen your bones.” Dr. Al-Ashkar is a Professional Partners Network® member of the National Osteoporosis Foundation and a certiﬁed member of the International Society of Clinical Densitometry. For more information, Dr. Al-Ashkar recommends visiting the National Osteoporosis Foundation website at nof.org. your family. Article is based on an interview conducted October 2011. Photo: ©Michel Arnaud/Corbis Outline REASON #1: You want to keep up with “My inspiration is my grandchildren,” Danner says. “They are very physical, so I love rolling around on the ﬂoor and doing hide-and-seek and all these different games that we do.” When asked how she stays so active, Danner responds: “Exercise, exercise, exercise. Wherever I am in the world, I do get in a strong walk and try to have weight-bearing exercises.” Dr. Al-Ashkar agrees with this approach, saying that to reduce the chance of falls and fractures, “all people with postmenopausal osteoporosis should do weight-bearing exercises and muscle-strengthening exercises.” These types of exercises not only strengthen the bones themselves but also strengthen the muscles around the bones for additional support. (See sidebar for examples of weight-bearing exercises.) to continue working. REASON #2: You want to stay healthy enough For Danner, career is not something she’s ready to give up. “I just hope that I can keep working, because I love to work.” The Department of Labor estimates that 34 percent of women over 55 are still in the labor force. But whether you’re working full time or part time or signing on to be a volunteer, strong bones are vital to success. WATCH A VIDEO ON BONE DENSITY To watch a Cleveland Clinic video that explains bone density and how it’s measured, go to my.clevelandclinic.org and search “bone density video.” Select the ﬁrst search result. IN GOOD HEALTH I9 http://www.nof.org http://my.clevelandclinic.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Good Health - Spring 2012 - Fairview

In Good Health - Spring 2012 - Fairview
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In Good Health - Spring 2012 - Fairview