Helping people gain better

Osteoporosis is a growing public health concern. It is characterized by low bone mass and decreased bone strength which results in an increased risk for fracture. This disease can affect both men and women. Current estimates are that 5.1% of men and 24.5% of women age 65 years and older have osteoporosis of the hip or spine.

Osteoporosis can be diagnosed with a BMD (bone mineral density) assessment.

Most experts recommend a BMD assessment in all postmenopausal women 65 years and older.

Many experts also recommend a BMD assessment in women younger than 65 who are at increased risk for osteoporosis.

Some experts recommend a BMD assessment for men over the age of 70.

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. As such, there are no clinical manifestations until the affected individual suffers a fracture. This is why early diagnosis is important -we have therapies that can slow or even reverse the progression of osteoporosis so that fracture risk is reduced. One of our goals at Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology is to deliver interventional therapies that will maintain quality of life for an aging population. If you have osteoporosis, we can perform a thorough evaluation and offer an individualized treatment plan.

Here are things you can do on your own to preserve bone mass:

• Limit alcohol consumption to <2 drinks daily
• Avoid smoking
• Take a daily walk for at least 30-45 minutes
• Consume foods containing vitamin D (dairy and fish from the ocean) and/or take a supplement
• Consume foods containing calcium (dairy, green leafy vegetables) and/or take a supplement.

Links for more information:
nia.nih.gov/health/osteoporosis
nof.org/patients
rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Osteoporosis