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Are you a woman over the age of 45 who has experienced menopause or is in the early stages of it? You're in the high risk category for osteoporosis. This disease causes bones to become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, it can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.
The physicians of Texas Medical Association urge you to learn more about this debilitating but preventable and treatable disease. While women are five times more likely than men to develop this disease, men also suffer from osteoporosis.
Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity. One-third of American women over age 65 will eventually have a spinal fracture.
Many people think of bones as hard and lifeless structures. However, they actually are complex, living tissue. Bones provide structural support for muscles, protect vital organs, and store the calcium essential for bone density and strength.
Because bones are constantly changing, they can heal and are affected by diet and exercise. Until the age of about 35, you build and store bone efficiently. Then, as part of the natural aging process, your bones begin to break down faster then new bones can form. In women, bone loss accelerates after menopause, when their ovaries stop producing estrogen, the hormone that protects against bone loss.
Building strong bones, especially before age 35, can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis, and a healthy lifestyle can be critical for keeping bones strong. There are several steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis:
- Estrogen replacement therapy should be considered by women who've experienced natural menopause and have multiple osteoporosis risk factors, such as early menopause, or a blood relative with osteoporosis. Also, women who've had their ovaries removed surgically need estrogen replacement therapy.
- An adequate amount of calcium in your diet may provide protection. Many adults get only half or less of their daily calcium requirement. As you increase your calcium intake, try to eat foods low in fat. Exercise can help build and maintain strong bones.
- Exercise that forces you to work against gravity (such as walking, jogging, racquet sports, hiking, aerobic dance, and stair climbing) is beneficial. Remember, the benefits of exercise last only as long as you maintain the program.
Work with your physician to determine if you have osteoporosis or may be at risk for the disease. And, more importantly, work with him or her to prevent this disease from happening to you.
Last Published: 10/6/2004 Print this page
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