Please everyone get a bone density test. 1 out of 2 women over 50 will have an osteoporosis related hip fracture. 1 in 4 men over 65 will. 25% of those men die in the first year and 79% never leave assisted living. 50% of the women will not be able to walk without assistance.
It is a silent disease until you start breaking bones. Then it is painful and debilitating. I know I live with it.
A DEXA test can tell within 1% your bone density and if you will get osteoporosis if you do not already have it. Currently 14 million people suffer from it and by 2010 half of all Americans will have osteoporosis or a low bone mass.
It can be slowed down and prevented. With the economy the way it is today, prevention is the healthiest and least expensive way to treat this disease.
BLDBNZ
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
Fight Osteoporosis
- By BLDBNZ
- Posted August 19, 2009 at 6:32 pm · 9 replies
- In Diagnosing osteoporosis
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Back pain Fractures Meditation Physical therapy Anxiety Pain Depression Osteoporosis
9 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By SaraMeeks
- Posted August 20, 2009 at 12:08 pm
- Report post
Hello: And thanks for your post to help increase awareness. I'd like to add some thoughts on some of the things you have said.
1. Although osteoporosis is often called a silent disease until a fracture occurs, it really is not so silent. It's just that we miss a lot of signs and symptoms along the way. Early symptoms include early satiety, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, depression, decreased quality of life, and back pain. Then we go on to early signs such as loss of body height, postural change (increased thoracic kyphosis,) reduced lung function, protruding abdomen, and decreased lumbar lordosis. We then go into functional decline and, eventually, with spinal fractures, increased risk of death. This information is taken from the 2004 Report of the Surgeon General and there is more in the literature.
2. Bone density is one part of bone health. An important part but, nonetheless, one part. There is also bone quality and there's no way to test for that non-invasively.
3. You are right--prevention is the way to go. However, true prevention begins early in life, some say even before conception, as the seeds are sown for what will manifest later.
Following sensible guidelines for diet, hydration, exercise, sleep, supplements, avoiding smoking and alcohol (there is, of course, more) will help build good quality bones that, along with denser bones, resist fracture.
This does not mean that, even after you've had a fracture, that you can't do something. It's never too late and the earlier you begin to take care of your bone health, the better.
Just expanding on your thoughts.
Sara Meeks
- By debbie59
- Posted August 21, 2009 at 7:10 am
- Report post
There is one really important part of this osteoporosis epidemic that neither of you have mentioned. We , since being told to stay out of the sun and use of sunscreens, are sorely lacking in vitamin D. I had a dexa almost 2 years ago and will have another in November but my Dr. checks my D and calcium every 3 months. I believe that a deficiency in D is the major culprit.
- By BLDBNZ
- Posted August 22, 2009 at 2:43 am
- Report post
debbie59
Yes, vitamin D is crucial to the absorption of calcium. For people who can not or chose not to get any sun exposure your doctor can tell you the right anount of vitamin D to take each day- as well as calcium supplements. Most osteoporosis medications encourage you to take both Calcium and CitaminD for the best esults.
- By BLDBNZ
- Posted August 22, 2009 at 3:25 am
- Report post
Hello SaraMeeks,
You are absolutely right and they are all mentioned in great detail in my book. I just try to answer the questions given to me.
Are you an advocate for osteoporisis or in the medical field? Most lay people do not know all these things. I have had many years of living with and researching this disease. It is referred to as the"Silent Disease" because many people do not know they even have it until seeing their doctor for a fracture or injury only to discover it is osteoporosis related. So much information is bursting out and becoming known- it was not like that a few years ago.
BB
- By SaraMeeks
- Posted August 22, 2009 at 5:38 am
- Report post
BLDBNZ and others:
Yes, we neglected to mention Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is another epidemic that is being linked to a host of problems and not just osteoporosis. It is important to get your Vitamin D levels checked and then go from there.
Sara Meeks
- By debbie59
- Posted August 22, 2009 at 10:19 am
- Report post
According to my Dr. and many others, it's the main cause. Think of the time line and the use of sunscreens and warnings to stay out of the sun. I'm a red head so staying out of the sun was a necessity, as I don't like looking like a swollen tomato:-) 4000 IUs a day is what I take. You can be on a total calcium diet and without the D you won't absorb it. That's just a biochemical fact.
- By sdivas
- Posted August 22, 2009 at 11:28 am
- Report post
BB, If I may answer your question ... I'm surprised that you are not aware of Sara Meeks. Sara's book is "Walk Tall" and is used by many physical therapists that work with people that have bone loss. In my opinion, Sara is the gold standard of physical therapists for safe, effective exercise for people with osteopenia/osteoporosis. I always suggest asking the physical therapist if they are aware of Sara Meeks book which gives a good idea if the PT has interest in bone loss. I think Sara's "Wall Tall" and NOF's "Boning Up On Osteoporosis" should be in every physical therapy department. People are getting much better educated about bone loss; especially with NOF/Inspire osteoporosis discussion community. People are much better imformed when they speak with their clinicians. NOF is reaching more health professionals ... check Search for NOF's journal "NOF Helps Professionals Reach More Patients". We're at a time when more doctors, dentists, fitness professionals are becoming more aware of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Sandi
- By sdivas
- Posted August 22, 2009 at 11:35 am
- Report post
Hello debbie59, are you aware of Belleruth Naparstek? She has many guided imagery cd's ... one that is a guided meditation for help with panic attacks. I'm no expert on panic attacks, but our body speaks to us in many ways; sometimes in trying to protect us when there is nothing that we need to be protected from .... and eventually when we learn coping skills and we no longer need what our brain sends out as a message for protection, the panic attacks become less and less, so I offer you this information in hope that you will check it out. Listening to guided imagery cd's can change the messages in our mind. There are also many other cd's for pain, depression, etc. Please check www.healthjourneys.coms ... also, www.amazon.com has many of Belleruth Naparstek's guided imagery cd's. It certainly can't hurt ... and it just may help. I hope so because panic attacks are not pleasant. Sandi
- By BLDBNZ
- Posted August 22, 2009 at 1:13 pm
- Report post
sdivas,
No I was not aware of Sara Meeks book. I will have to look into it. Thank you for the advise.
BB
Add to the discussion