Osteoporosis: What you should know...

One out of every two women over 50 will experience a bone fracture. Did you have your yearly mammogram? Your yearly Pap smear? When did you have your last bone density? More women over 50 experience a bone fracture, leading to complications, than develop breast cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer combined.

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become thin and weak and occurs most frequently in women after menopause. Estrogen helps women maintain bone strength and as estrogen levels decline (after menopause) bone is lost. Bones that are weakened from osteoporosis are more likely to break with the hip, wrist and spine bones most at risk.

The upper back may curve if the bones in your spine fracture. Your body loses bone mass throughout life. New bone grows to replace lost bone but the rate of new bone growth changes as you age. When you are young, the amount of new bone should be more than the amount of bone lost. As you grow older and reach menopause your body is less able to stay ahead of the bone loss. Your bones can then become weak and brittle.

If you already have osteoporosis, falls and back strains can put you at risk for fractures. How can you protect yourself?

Assess your risk factors

Your body is no longer producing estrogen. There is not enough calcium in your diet. You smoke, drink alcohol. Use certain medicines -- such as steroids, excessive thyroid hormones and certain anticonvulsants. You do not exercise much.

Have had early menopause (before age 45)? Are of the Caucasian race or Asian ethnicity? Have a thin or small build? Have a family history of osteoporosis or osteoporotic fracture?

Learn how bones change

Childhood: Children's bones grow quickly and reach their full length in the teen-age years. During this time of rapid growth, you can build strong bones by eating calcium-rich foods and getting plenty of exercise.

Young Adults: When you are a young adult, your bones thicken. They reach their "peak bone mass" between the ages of 25 and 35. Bones are strongest when at their peak bone mass. You can help them reach their peak by staying active and getting enough calcium.

Age 30 to Menopause: Bone mass declines slightly during these years. Your body makes just enough new bone to maintain peak bone mass. Estrogen also helps to maintain your bone mass. To keep your bones at the peak mass, exercise and get a lot of calcium.

Menopause: As you near menopause, your supply of estrogen decreases. Bone loss increases the most during the menopause years. Consequently, your bones may become thinner and weaker. Hormone replacement therapy can help prevent bone loss during this time. Exercise and calcium can also help keep your bones strong.

Later years: The rate of bone loss slows. But your body may still be losing bone faster than it can replace it. If too much bone is lost, you may be at risk for fractures. You can lessen bone loss by staying active and increasing your calcium intake.

Make sure your diet

has enough calcium

If you don't give your body enough calcium, it will take the calcium from your bones. The best source of calcium is food.

Calcium supplements can help you meet your calcium needs. But remember, taking calcium alone won't protect you from bone loss. Taking more calcium than you need could be harmful. Check with your health care provider to find the right supplement for you.

Vitamin D is also needed. Vitamin D is found in certain foods including milk. Multivitamins and even 30 to 60 minutes of sunshine a day are other good sources. Just as in calcium, too much supplemental vitamin D can be harmful so check with your health care provider for the right dosage.

Tips:

* Avoid too many foods with a lot of protein or sodium. Large amounts of these foods can make your body lose calcium.

* Look for foods that have added calcium, such as orange juice, cereal or bread.

* If dairy products upset your stomach, try other calcium food sources.

* Tums are an inexpensive and good source of calcium.

* Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to bones. It is a major cause of bone loss. Heavy drinking can cause osteoporosis even if you have no other risk factors.

* Quit smoking. Smoking reduces bone mass. Smoking may also interfere with estrogen levels and cause early menopause.

* Get plenty of exercise. Exercise plays a big part in maintaining bone mass no matter what your age. The amount and type of activity you do also play a part in keeping your bones strong. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises such as walking, aerobic dancing, bicycling, weight training and swimming are just a few of the activities that are good for your bones.

* Look into hormone replacement and other medications. If you are approaching menopause, hormone replacement may be helpful. The benefits of hormone replacement are that it prevents bone loss, reduces the risk or heart disease and reduces the symptoms of menopause -- hot flashes, vaginal dryness, moodiness, insomnia and sweating.

Some of the side effects of hormone replacement are breast tenderness, slight bloating and vaginal bleeding.

Many women are concerned that estrogen may increase their risk of breast or uterine cancer.

Other medications may be prescribed based on your physician's evaluation. Risedronate and Alendronate are oral medications for osteoporosis. Calcitonin, another medication comes as a nasal spray or in injection form. Both of these medications make fractures less likely. They slow bone loss and give bones a chance to repair themselves. Although hormone replacement or other medications may reduce bone loss, physical activity and a diet high in calcium and enough vitamin D are also needed to help keep bones strong.

* Prevent accidents by living safely. Learn to live safely to prevent falls and back strain. Make your home safe by getting rid of hazards. Use caution when lifting, bending or reaching. Think about your personal safety and wear slip-proof shoes and use handrails. These safety measures can help protect you from fractures.

Although women over 50 are at a greater risk for developing osteoporosis, younger women and men can also develop this disease.

A bone density test will show whether or not you have osteoporosis or are losing bone mass. When you make plans to have your yearly mammogram and Pap smear, be sure to include a bone density study. It may save your bones -- and your life.

Esther L. Helin is physician liaison at McBride Clinic.

2000Copyright
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.