By Leora Shein PNP
Throughout our lives, the body constantly absorbs and replaces bone tissue, but at a certain age, new bone production often can't keep up with loss. We may develop osteoporosis, resulting in weak and brittle bones. There may be no symptoms whatsoever - or we may suffer back pain, stooped posture, loss of height or breaks.
Osteoporosis, which literally means "porous bone,” is a silent disease that sometimes goes undiagnosed until you have a fracture. Unfortunately, the mortality rate associated with hip fractures is quite high: 21% of people die within one year of having their hip surgically repaired and 70% of people who break a hip and do not have surgical repair will die within a year.
Luckily, we now have a noninvasive test for osteoporosis called a DEXA scan. For the scan, the patient reclines on the table while a scanning arm passes over the body, emitting a low dose of X-rays to measure the density of your bones, usually focusing on the hip and spine. You’ll usually get results in a day or so.
In general, women are more susceptible to osteoporosis as they age due to the loss of estrogen during menopause. Additional risk factors for osteoporosis include having a grandparent with osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, smoking, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, alcohol consumption, among others.
Menopausal hormone therapy can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Also, you can do your best to avoid osteoporosis and support bone health with a high protein diet, including adequate calcium and vitamin D, which are crucial to building strong bones. Vigorous exercise programs that include weight training three times a week have also been proven to prevent osteoporosis and help rebuild bones.
As for medications, anabolic agents focus on rebuilding new bone while others, such as bisphosphonates, aim to stop the absorption of existing bone to reverse osteoporosis. Prolia is generally taken long-term, while Evenity is taken over the course of 12 months to strengthen the bones. Drawbacks of these meds vary depending on the drug class.
No matter which course you choose, we recommend DEXA scans every two years as well as aggressive lifestyle changes, including adjustments to diet and exercise.
If you’d like more details on what's best for you, we invite you to get in touch. Give us a call at (505) 670-1976 to set up an appointment.
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