Don’t Let Your Bones Break
By Vijaya Polovaram, MD

Of the several kinds of bone disease, the most common is osteoporosis in which bones lose minerals such as calcium and become porous, fragile and easily broken. With osteoporosis, your body frame is similar to a house damaged by termites.

It is estimated that osteoporosis causes approximately 1.5 million fractures (broken bones) every year in the U.S. Not only can these fractures be painful and disfiguring, they may reduce a person’s ability to lead an active life. Osteoporosis affects every bone in the body, but fractures occur most commonly in the back, hips, and wrists. Hip fractures are by far the most devastating type of broken bones, accounting for about 300,000 hospitalizations each year. Medical treatment expenses for osteoporosis-related broken bones are estimated around $18 billion annually.

Osteoporosis Signs and Symptoms
Osteoporosis is sometimes called a “silent thief” because bone loss can occur with no obvious symptoms. While your bones may not feel weaker, you may experience symptoms without realizing that they’re associated with osteoporosis. For example, a loss of height, change in posture, or severe back pain may be caused by osteoporosis.

Unfortunately, many people do not discover that they have osteoporosis until a bone fracture occurs. Early diagnosis and treatment may help lessen the risk of fracture. At first, fragile bones are not painful. By the time a bone breaks, it is difficult to restore bone strength. Half of the women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis while one in ten men over 50 will experience a broken hip, spine or wrist. Osteoporosis is particularly serious because it puts one at increased risk of fracture from ordinary activities such as bending and lifting or from a more traumatic event such as falling.

Broken bones are painful at any age but for older people, weak bones can be deadly. The most common breaks in weak bones occur in the wrist, spine, and hip. Broken bones in the spine are painful, slow to heal and may cause gradual loss of height and posture. Over time, a bent spine may make it more difficult to walk or even sit up.

Hip fractures are a major concern for the both men and women above 65 years to consider. Only a third of patients suffering from hip fractures return to their prefracture level of function, another third require nursing home placement and the other third die within one year. A woman’s a risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

Help Protect Your Bones
To keep your bones stronger, eat foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D (which helps your body absorb the calcium). The average American consumes far less than the recommended amounts – a major public health concern. If you are over 50 years old, 1,200 mgs of calcium is the daily recommendation. From age 51 to 70, the Vitamin D requirement is 400 IU of Vitamin D which increases to 600 IU after age 70.

No matter what your age, exercise helps promote good health. But for women living with osteoporosis, moderate and regular weight-bearing exercise can help maintain bone health and prevent further bone loss. Exercise can also reduce your risk of falling by improving balance, flexibility and strength. Two bone-friendly types of physical activity include resistance and low-impact weight-bearing exercises. And, always consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program to determine the best program for you.

Exercise alone may be inadequate for the treatment of osteoporosis. All women over 65 years should have a Bone Mineral Density Test while those with risk factors should be tested at an earlier age. A low BMD index indicates a need to initiate treatment.

New Treatment on the Horizon
A new treatment may soon be available for the millions of women (and men) who currently suffer from low bone mass. Low bone mass is an early indication of osteoporosis that causes loss of height, stooped shoulders (Dowager’s hump) and fractures. Instead of a daily or weekly pill, Zometa is a single intravenous (in a vein) dose of preventive medicine administered once a year. Zometa must prove it reduces the incidence of fractures before the Food and Drug Administration will approve it for general use in treating osteoporosis. A multi-year study is currently underway.

Dr. Polavaram specializes in internal medicine and is the owner of Capital Primary Care with offices in Cary and Raleigh.

September 2008
Common Sense Eating Habits

August 2008
Every Parent's Nightmare

July 2008
How to Empower Yourself in the Doctor-Patient Relationship

June 2008
First Aid for Summer Fun

May 2008
Brain Attack

April 2008
Special Health Section • Beyond Heartburn: Reflux Disease

March 2008
Navigating Dietary Supplements

February 2008
High Blood Pressure: Respect the Readings

January 2008
The Amazing Circulatory System

December 2007
The Tongue

November 2007
Dealing with Allergies

October 2007
Breast Cancer - Regular Testing is Key to Early Diagnosis

October 2007
My Aching Back!

September 2007
Pain Suffering and Pain Relief

August 2007
Don't Let Your Bones Break

July 2007
Advances in Hearing Aid Technology

June 2007
Pins and Needles That Won't Go Away

May 2007
Goal of Comfortable Death and Dignity

April 2007
Locomotion of the limbs - GAIT

March 2007
Early Detection Is Key In Saving Eyesight: Age-Relatd Macular Degeneration


Visit our Archive page for more Live Well articles