The catch-phrase “Age 50 is the new 30″ doesn’t seem to include our bones.
Today, an estimated 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis, and 34 million more are suffering from low bone mass, placing them at an increased risk for osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
“At one time, osteoporosis was thought of as a women’s disease, but we now know that both men and women can develop osteoporosis,” said Dr. David Pugliese, a rheumatologist at Geisinger Mount Pocono and Geisinger Specialty Group.
In women, usually after menopause, bones become weak; for men, it occurs at a later stage in life, Pugliese said.
The NOF predicts that close to half of all women older than age 50 will break a bone because of the disease and that one in four men will, too.
Most of an adult bone’s mass, 85 to 90 percent, is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, Pugliese said.
“Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can help to prevent osteoporosis later in life,” he said.
People need to be aware of certain factors that can also contribute to serious bone loss, Pugliese said.
“Alcohol and tobacco contribute to bone loss, as well as certain medications, like steroids and drugs used to treat prostate cancer,” he said.
Osteoporosis is not a disease of just the older generation. it can be found in younger people who have metabolic conditions or eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
There are no warning signs until the first fracture occurs — especially a wrist fracture that is not the result of a traumatic fall or injury, Pugliese said.
There are several ways to become proactive about cutting your chances of getting osteoporosis, he said.
Diet and exercise can be an important tool in staving off the silent but crippling disease, Pugliese said.
If the patient is physically able, he often advises the patient to start an exercise program that includes weight bearing.
“Even with those things, it sometimes becomes necessary to take medication that slows or stops the progression of bone loss,” he said.
Diet is something that Diana Scarisbeick knows a great deal about. she is a registered dietitian and nutrition counselor at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg.
“I see young and old patients. usually they are referred to me after they have received the initial diagnoses of osteoporosis,” she said.
Scarisbeick helps patients develop healthy ways to supplement their calcium intake.
“I talk to them on what to eat, so they can increase the amount of calcium they take in every day. Plus, I remind them that to get the best result, they need to take vitamin D along with the calcium,” she said.
Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption, as do green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, Scarisbeick said. she added that low-fat yogurt, cheese and milk are also good sources of calcium.
She also talks to patients about any medications they take in relation to their body size.
Certain minerals block calcium absorption, and sometimes patients are not aware of that, she said.
“The most important thing to remember is that osteoporosis has no symptoms, and having a bone density test is the best way to learn if you are at risk for the disease,” Pugliese said.
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