CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Bones are strong and sturdy because they’re reinforced with a mineral called calcium phosphate. Viewed under a microscope, healthy bones look like a honeycomb.
As we age, or with certain illnesses, our body loses too much bone or makes too little. As a result, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb enlarge and the bones become frail, easy to break and porous – hence the name “osteoporosis.”
About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or its precursor, low bone mass. It’s a silent disease, often discovered late when we notice a loss of height and an outwardly curved back.
Studies show that half of women and up to one in four men aged 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. These fractures have a major impact on our quality of life and survival. The bones more prone to break are the hips, the vertebrae in the spine and the wrists.
Hip fractures in the elderly are associated with a 20% mortality rate in the first year, mostly due to complications related to prolonged immobilization. Besides age, other factors can increase the risk of bone loss and fracture, including smoking, taking steroids and suffering from other chronic illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis or chronic kidney disease.
So, what can we do to maintain strong bones and prevent fractures?
Prevention should start early. We reach our peak bone mass before we turn 20, so starting with strong bones early in life is important. This can be achieved through a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
Getting enough calcium and vitamin D from milk, cheese and yogurt is particularly important, especially in childhood, because it helps us form and maintain healthy bones. In adulthood, it’s important to avoid excessive alcohol, avoid smoking and perform weight-bearing exercises regularly.
The next best thing is early diagnosis. A bone scan known as DXA is recommended for women 65 and older, men 70 and older and all adults with risk factors for osteoporosis.
A bone scan measures the calcium minerals in the lumbar spine, the hip and sometimes the wrist. The measurement is expressed as a score that compares your bone density with that of a young adult of same gender and race.
Osteoporosis can’t be cured, but it can be treated effectively. Some medications prevent bone resorption, keeping more calcium in the bones, while others promote bone buildup.
Don’t wait until you fracture a bone. Talk to your health care provider to see what steps you can take to optimize your bone strength as you age.
Written by DR. CARMEN GOTA, rheumatologist at Vista Healthcare.
• S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T •
Resources
- Vista Healthcare | Address: 2891 E. Mall Drive, St. George | Telephone: 435-215-0257 | Website.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.