Breaking A Bone Hurts

At least most of the time when you break a bone, it hurts. Were you aware that 1 out of every 3 spine fractures are painless and can occur without you even knowing? Usually fractures stop you in your tracks because the pain can be so severe, and most fractures occur after a fall, in particular, wrist and hip fractures. Some people however, have such thin bones or severe osteoporosis that they might fracture just by coughing or leaning over. Fractures can literally "stop you in your tracks" and lead to immobility, a loss of income, and often a loss of independence. Fractures can be devastating.

Osteoporosis And Fractures Are Major Health Problems

The problem affects millions of people. Half of women and one-fourth of men 50 years or older in the U.S. will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture within their lifetime. Even in Spokane there are many more fractures than there should be. Like high blood pressure, however, osteoporosis is silent; you don't feel it unless you fracture. Your risk of a fracture can actually be 20 times greater if you have already had one. If a woman is menopausal and has had 2 spine fractures, again even if she never had back pain or knew she'd fractured, her risk of another fracture is 25% within the following year!

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Reasons For Losing Bone

Bone loss is generally related to calcium and vitamin D, including different medical conditions and medications that affect calcium and vitamin D. Our bones are not like rocks; instead they constantly build themselves up again after they are partially broken down. When we are young and healthy, this process is balanced. As we age, it becomes uneven and you lose more bone than you make, resulting in thin bones or osteoporosis. Women start losing bone after menopause if they are not on estrogen therapy, and though a good calcium, vitamin D and exercise program may minimize bone loss, it still occurs. Conditions like kidney or liver disease, high thyroid levels, low testosterone levels and certain medications such as prednisone, progesterone and anti-epileptics can cause bone loss. In addition, people who have had calcium kidney stones may not only lose the calcium they take in (which might be lower than usual because they've had a stone) but they may also lose calcium from their bones in their urine. Lastly, too much soda, caffeine, and alcohol, and of course, smoking, are all detrimental to our skeletons as well.

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The Right Amount Of Calcium And Vitamin D

Getting your minerals and vitamins is a must for preventing osteoporosis! Most people only get a 1/3 or less of the calcium they need! Almost everyone with osteoporosis or over 70 years old gets an insufficient amount of vitamin D. 500 milligrams of calcium in a dairy or supplement 3 times a day is recommended, and though current guidelines for vitamin D are 800 units a day, if you have osteoporosis, 1000 - 2000 units a day is likely needed. Even though the UVB rays from the sun help make vitamin D in your skin, this happens less effectively as we age and due to risks of skin cancer, sunlight exposure is not recommended. It is hard to get too much vitamin D, but if you've had a calcium kidney stone or a high calcium level in your blood in the past, it is best to check with your doctor before increasing your intake significantly. Lastly, since vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, you can take it all at once if you want rather than splitting it up.

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Be As Active As You Can Your Entire Life

Being active is also important for our bones. Our "peak" or best bone density develops by the time we are 25 to 30 years old, though most of the calcium in our skeleton is put down during puberty, when we are between 10 and 14 years old. We know that without activity and especially without impact or gravity, such as up in space, our bones and muscles lose strength fast. You can lose 1% of your bone each week if you are sick and at bed rest, and astronauts can lose 2 % a month in space. Jumping and walking is the best way to increase your hip bone density, but even standing and increasing your leg strength and balance is important. Exercises that increase your back strength help your posture and have been shown in several studies to also increase your spine bone density. Exercise programs like Sit & Be Fit, developed here in Spokane by Mary Ann Wilson, RN, though gentle and possible for anyone to participate in, can nonetheless help your balance, posture and strength.

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A Bone Mineral Density Test

A BMD is painless like an x-ray, and is currently the best way to know your fracture risk. Tests for bone strength and bone quality may be clinically available in the future. The Surgeon General (October 2004 Report) recommends BMD tests for all women over 65, and for anyone over the age of 50 who has suffered even a minor fracture. A repeat test, preferably on the same machine, by a certified BMD technician with good precision, might be recommended a few years later for comparison. Good medical therapy along with calcium and vitamin D can result in improvements in BMD measurements and reduce your risk of fracture.

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Many PDA-Approved Medical Therapies For Osteoporosis

There are a wide variety of PDA-approved (the Parenteral Drug Association) medical therapies for osteoporosis, all of which have been shown to increase bone density and reduce fractures. The medications differ in their effect on BMD and fracture reduction. Some medications have been shown to reduce spine fractures where others reduce both hip and spine fractures. It is important to talk to your physician about a BMD test and which medical therapy is best suited for you. It is never too late or too early to prevent or treat osteoporosis and reduce fractures! If you want to live fracture free, think strong "BONES".