"Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later."
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Peter A, Macdonald, M.D. is a Board Certified Family Practice Physician at Mecosta Health Services in Big Rapids.
He offers medical care to adults and children and will care for you both in the office and at the hospital.
Office hours are 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Macdonald, please call MHS at (231) 796-3200.
[Research: National Osteoporosis Foundation]
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Osteoporosis: It can be prevented and treated
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Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Symptoms
Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse. Collapsed vertebrae may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as kyphosis or stooped posture.
Risk Factors
Certain people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others. Heart Disease
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These risk factors include:
Personal history of fracture after age 50
Current low bone mass
History of fracture in a 1° relative
Being female
Being thin and/or having a small frame
Advanced age
A family history of osteoporosis
Estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause, specially early or surgically induced
Abnormal absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea)
Anorexia nervosa
Low lifetime calcium intake
Vitamin D deficiency
Use of certain medications (corticosteroids, chemotherapy, anticonvulsants and others)
Presence of certain chronic medical conditions
Low testosterone levels in men
An inactive lifestyle
Current cigarette smoking
Excessive use of alcohol
Being Caucasian or Asian, although African Americans and Hispanic Americans are at significant risk as well
Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis.
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Detection
Specialized tests called bone mineral density (BMD) tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body.A BMD test can:
Detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
Predict chances of fracturing in the future
Determine rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment if a DXA BMD test is conducted at intervals of one year or more
Prevention
By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass.Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later.
There are five steps, which together can optimize bone health and help prevent
osteoporosis.
Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D
Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise
Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
Talk to your healthcare provider about bone health
When appropriate, have a bone density test and take medication
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