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Osteoporosis: Know your risks and how to prevent it 
Our skeletons are constantly remodeling: old bone is taken away and new bone is laid down. We reach our peak bone mass — the amount of bone in our body — at about age 30, after which we experience a slow loss of bone.Known as a silent disease because people are often unaware they have it, osteoporosis is a bone thinning disease that occurs with aging. About 40-50% of women and 20% of men will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. More then one million fractures occur yearly in the U.S. due to the disease and the most common are vertebral (spine), hip and wrist fractures. Risk factors The main risk factors for osteoporosis include aging, a low bone density, a prior fracture in your adult life, smoking, use of high-risk medications such as cortisone or anti-seizure medications, and having a family history of osteoporosis — particularly if you have a parent who had a hip fracture. Inactivity leads to weaker muscles and increased risk of a fracture. Prevention A generally healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent osteoporosis. According to Dr. Christine Simonelli, director of HealthEast Osteoporosis Care, there are many things you can do to decrease your risk for developing osteoporosis. Quitting smoking reduces your risk. Good nutrition is vital, including calcium and vitamin D. Most adults need a total of 1500 mg of calcium and 1000 IU of vitamin D. Each serving of a dairy product is about 300 mg of calcium, and vitamin D comes mainly from sunlight exposure to your skin, so most adults will need a calcium/vitamin D supplement. Dr. Simonelli also notes that regular exercise is another important preventive measure. Exercise increases muscle strength, thereby preventing falls, and it can also improve your bone density. Diagnosis If you are over the age of 65 for women or 70 for men, or if your doctor identifies other risk factors for osteoporosis, he or she will recommend bone density testing. This is an easy, painless test that is offered at four of the HealthEast clinics: Woodbury, Downtown St. Paul, Midway and Maplewood. Treatment For some adults, treatment for osteoporosis may be helpful. Medications have been shown to reduce fractures in adults with osteoporosis, but are only helpful if you have adequate calcium and vitamin D so they do not replace good lifestyle habits. Hormone therapy may also be recommended for certain women and men. Consultation A consultation can be arranged with an order from your health care provider to HealthEast Osteoporosis Care. At a consultation visit, you will have the chance to review your bone density test and risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture. If testing demonstrates that you have osteoporosis, the consultation may involve laboratory testing and recommendations for managing your osteoporosis. For more information, contact HealthEast Osteoporosis Care at 651-232-0656.
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