Bone Health and Children - How Parents Can Help

Parents regularly discuss their children’s health with their health care providers but rarely do they discuss their kid’s bone health, even though bone health is a central part of a kid’s overall health. Building strong bones by adopting nutritional and healthy lifestyle habits in childhood is very important and helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis later in life.

Childhood, defined here as between infancy and adolescence, is a critical period for bone development. During this period, bones are actively formed through a process called remodeling, which involves breaking down old bones and building new ones. During preteen and adolescence, more bones are built than broken down and as a result, bone growth takes place during these periods. Kids are generally encouraged to consume foods rich in calcium because their bones need the mineral for development.

Most of the calcium (about 99%) in a kid’s body is found in his/her bone, which is used to form bone tissue. The amount of bone tissue in a given bone is commonly referred to as bone mass. As more calcium is deposited in bones, more bone tissue is made. This helps bones increase in strength and density, and this process continues until bone mass peaks, meaning that a person’s bones have achieved their maximum strength and density.

Experts do not agree on the precise age when bone mass peaks but for most people, it peaks by age 30. However, medical experts believe that 99% of peak bone mass is actually acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes youth the most important time to invest in a kid’s bone health. After this point, bone growth slows down considerably.

The question is what can a Mom do to help? Moms can do two important things: Encourage her kids to develop healthy eating habits and to get plenty physical activity. Encouraging your kids to adopt proper eating habits now can make all the difference in the world as they age. One way to accomplish this goal is to lead by example. Believe it or not, your kids watch everything you do- good or bad and they are unlikely to do what you say rather than what you do.

The Academy of Sciences recommends that kids 4 - 8 years old should get 800 milligrams of calcium a day while those 9 – 18 years old should get 1300 milligrams. These intake levels can be easily met through balanced diet that includes dairy products, fruits, and vegetables as well as calcium fortified breakfast cereals and juice. Steps as simple as replacing a can of soda each day with low-fat milk can make a huge difference in your kid’s bone development.

Also, your kids need vitamin D each day. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium in the small intestine. The main sources of vitamin D are fortified food and sunlight. Most active kids do not have any trouble making enough vitamin D in their skin from sunlight. Exposure to sunlight for up to 15 minutes a day may be all they need to meet their vitamin D requirement.

In addition to promoting healthy eating, moms can encourage their kids to get involved in regular physical activity that puts stress on their bones. Putting stress on bones helps them increase in size and strength. There are many physical activities that are good for the bone. A few examples are running, walking, aerobics, softball, baseball, basketball, table and lawn tennis, dancing, skating, football, and weight lifting.

Bone health is an important part of a kid’s health, and moms can help their kids build strong bones. Encouraging them to eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D is one way to achieve this goal; the other is getting them involved in regular physical activity. When it comes to bone health, there is such a thing as “too little, too late.” The health habits you help your kids form today can make, or literally break, their bones later in life.

Article Tags: Calcium, Osteoporosis, Vitamin D, Bone Health, Foods Rich In Calcium, Bone Health And Children

About the Author:
Chima Njoku is a freelance medical writer and publisher of free consumer friendly information on vitamins and minerals. To learn more about how calcium and vitamin D promote bone health, go to http://healthsolutionsontheweb.com/Calcium.html

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/bone-health-and-children-how-parents-can-help-348630.html

Healthy Weight Loss Recipes
Exercise & healthy diet - the 2 components of healthy weight loss.

Whisperinghome
Articles on home improvement, home decor, gardening,
home safety, cleaning & storage ideas, more!

Natural Health & Nutrition
Up-to-date articles on health, fitness and nutrition

Osteoporosis Myth: Broken Bones From Falls Are Not Related to Osteoporosis

Reality: Fractures in individuals over the age of 50 can be the first sign of weak bones from osteoporosis or low bone mass. Each year, 1.5 million older Americans suffer a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Half of all women over 50, and a quarter of all men, will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture sometime in their remaining life. And the problem is increasing: the surgeon general estimates that by 2020, half of all Americans over 50 will be at risk for bone fractures from osteoporosis and low bone mass.

If you are over 50, any broken bone should be taken very seriously. You may think to yourself, "Anyone would have broken a bone after taking a fall like that," but a break after a fall in people over 50 may be a critical sign of osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about whether you should have a bone density test to determine if your fracture could be due to osteoporosis.

There are many medications currently available to treat osteoporosis, and they have been shown to substantially reduce the risk of bone fractures for the people who take them. If your doctor prescribes an osteoporosis medication, it's important to keep taking it even if you don't see improvements on your next bone density scan. Osteoporosis drugs can be reducing your risk of bone fracture in ways that don't show up on a bone density scan. And as always, you should continue to eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.

SOURCES: Department of Health and Human Services: "Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2004." National Osteoporosis Foundation. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Source: http://www.webmd.com/solutions/Osteoporosis-Myths-Facts/broken-bones

Recent Keyword Searches: cast comes off, how long for broken leg theropy, how to tell when you have a broken bone, hair growth after cast, problem with plaster after fracture, 12 weeks in a leg cast, how long should it take a child to heal from a broken elbow?, how to tell if you have a broken bone, why am i bleeding under my cast

Levels of Testosterone Linked to Broken Bones in Older Men

(January 14, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Having low blood levels of the male hormone testosterone could be a risk factor for fractures in men over 60, according to research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Here are some facts about osteoporosis and fracture risk in men:

• Osteoporosis is a condition that develops with aging and the use of certain drugs in which bone mass is lost, leading to more fragile bones and an increased risk of fractures.

• While most commonly associated with women, as many as one-third of fractures related to osteoporosis occur in men.

• Men who have had a previous osteoporosis-related fracture have three to four times the risk of having another fracture as women of the same age with a fracture.

Researchers out of the University of Sydney assessed the bone mineral density (BMD) and lifestyle factors of over 600 men whose average age was nearly 73 years. They observed these men for up to 16 years, keeping track of their blood levels of testosterone and any bone fractures that occurred.

Low blood levels of testosterone were found to be linked with an increased risk for fracture in these men. After accounting for other factors known to affect the risk of fracture, including age, weight, BMD, fracture history, smoking status, and calcium intake, low testosterone remained an important risk factor.

Based on these findings, the authors conclude that low testosterone levels are a risk factor for fracture in men over 60. They suggest that physicians could use measures of blood levels of testosterone to help determine fracture risk in their male patients over 60.

Source: http://www.insidermedicine.ca/archives/Levels_of_Testosterone_Linked_to_Broken_Bones_in_Older_Men_2070.aspx

Recent Keyword Searches: steroids to make broken bones heal quicker, how would a physician treat a broken thumb, speeding up recovery from broken bone injuries, broken leg america compensation, the time taken to recover from a broken bone in hand, things to do once the permanent lighter cast has been placed on a broken wrist, thinning leg bones, broken bone scanner, what should i do after my cast is off

Depression Raises Osteoporosis Risk For Premenopausal Women

A woman who suffers from depression is more likely to reach the menopause with a higher risk of bone fractures (osteoporosis), compared to a woman who does not have depression. In a study published inArchives of Internal Medicine it was found that 17% of women with depression had less bone mass in a section of their hip, called the femoral neck, compared to 2% of women who did not have depression.

Low bone mass in the lumbar spine was found in 20% of depressed women, compared to 9% of non-depressed women. An X-ray technique called DXA scanning was used to measure bone mass.

The researchers, from the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) explained that women with depression have immune systems which are overactive. Their bodies overproduce a chemical that leads to bone loss - this chemical, known as IL-6, also promotes inflammation.

The study involved 133 women, 89 depressed and 44 non-depressed. They were aged 21-45. All the women had the same risk factors, with the exception of depression. They had similar intakes of calcium, caffeine, alcohol - their use of tobacco was also similar, as were their levels of physical fitness, use of oral contraceptives, and their age of first menstrual period.

The scientists found that the hip bones of depressed women were especially susceptible to thinning - these bones fracture more frequently among older people with osteoporosis. The lower bone mass puts the patient at higher risk of costly, and sometimes fatal fractures.

NIMH Deputy Director Richard Nakamura, PhD, said "Osteoporosis is a silent disease. Too often, the first symptom a clinician sees is when a patient shows up with a broken bone. Now we know that depression can serve as a red flag - that depressed women are more likely than other women to approach menopause already at higher risk of fractures."

During our youth bone mass reaches its peak - after that it continues slowly thinning for the rest of our lives, thinning at a faster rate after a woman's menopause, the researchers explained. The authors stressed that the factor linking premenopausal osteoporosis risk in their study was definitely depression.

There was no association between the severity of depression and the amount of bone mass loss.

The immune-system imbalance experienced by some depressed women may be linked to excessive adrenalin, the researchers say. It is well know that depressed people produce more adrenalin - adrenalin can over-stimulate the immune system.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/91132.php

Technorati Tags:broken, bone, immune, depression, osteoporosis, menopause, fractures, il-6, inflammation
Generated By Technorati Tag Generator

Any old broken bone could mean osteoporosis

No matter the circumstances, if you're 65 or older and break a bone, your risk of having osteoporosis and suffering more fractures is greater than that of someone who has yet to break a bone after his 65th birthday, scientists report today.

Their finding contradicts the widely held belief that only bones broken in a fall from a standing height or lower are related to the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. Bones broken in falls from greater heights or in car crashes, so-called high-trauma fractures, don't count as red flags for osteoporosis, although there is little scientific evidence to support that view.

One of the main problems is that the concept of high trauma is fuzzy, says lead author Dawn Mackey. The magnitude, velocity and direction of the force applied to bone can vary from car crash to car crash and fall to fall, so the impact on bone of low-speed collisions isn't necessarily greater than the impact on bone of slipping on ice and hitting the pavement, Mackey's team writes. Yet the former is generally considered high trauma, while the latter is not.

The researchers analyzed data from two studies. One followed 8,022 women for about nine years; the other followed 5,995 men for about five years. All were at least 65 at the start.

Overall, 264 women's and 94 men's first broken bones were considered to be high-trauma fractures, while 3,211 women's and 346 men's first broken bones were low-trauma ones.

Whether their first fractures were high or low trauma, women who'd broken a bone were about a third more likely to sustain another fracture during the course of the study than women who did not have an initial fracture. In addition, the scientists write in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who sustained either high-trauma or low-trauma fractures were equally likely to have low bone-mineral density, considered the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis.

Although there were too few fractures among the men to quantify the risk of another fracture, the authors observed similar trends.

But the presumption, Mackey says, has been that anyone, weak bones or not, could suffer a fracture in a car crash or a fall from a ladder. When you break a bone in that kind of an accident, you've earned it, or so many doctors believe, says Mackey, an epidemiologist at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco.

As a result, she says, older people who have a high-trauma fracture don't receive the same sort of workup for osteoporosis that, say, peers who slip on the ice and break a hip do. Doctors don't think osteoporosis drugs can prevent high-trauma fractures. And clinical trials of drugs designed to treat osteoporosis may be overlooking valuable information by ignoring such fractures.

"Fractures previously defined as due to high trauma, such as those from a blunt injury in a motor vehicle crash or a fall from a chair, can no longer be dismissed as being unrelated to osteoporosis," Mayo Clinic osteoporosis researcher Sundeep Khosla writes in an accompanying editorial.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-11-27-osteoporosis_N.htm?csp=34

Study: Lack Of Sunlight, Milk, Exercise Causing Bone Deficiency In Children

Rickets is making a comeback, but bone specialists are more concerned that the recent rise in diagnosis of the disease (virtually wiped out until the 1990s) is a red flag indicating another, more serious issue — that possibly millions of seemingly healthy children aren’t building as much strong bone as they should, which may leave them more vulnerable to osteoporosis in the future than their grandparents are now.

Experts say that an overall lack of milk, sunshine and exercise is becoming an anti-bone trifecta. As a result, scientists are taking the first steps to ascertain how much of a problem is caused by kids not getting enough of the bone-building trio, based on new research that shows what “normal” bone density is for children of different ages.

Dr. Heidi Kalkwarf of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital led a national study that gave bone scans to 1,500 healthy children ages 6 to 17 to see how bone mass is accumulated. This resulted in the first bone-growth guide for children — similar to height-and-weight charts — being published last summer, designed specifically for pediatricians treating children at high risk of bone problems.

The government-funded study will continue to track those 1,500 children for seven more years to see how their bones turn out. Ultimately, the study seeks to find exactly what bone-growth level is cause for concern.

“I don't know if we're raising a population that's going to be at risk for osteoporosis,” Kalkwarf says. “It's really hard to know what the cutoff is; how low is too low?”

Since almost half of peak bone mass develops during adolescence, the concern is that missing out on the strongest possible bones in childhood could haunt people decades later. By the 30s, bone is broken down faster than it's rebuilt. Then it's a race to maintain bone and avoid the thin bones of osteoporosis in old age.

“There's some early data showing that even a 10-percent deficit in your bone mass when you finish your adolescent years can increase your potential risk of having osteoporosis and fractures by as much as 50 percent,” says James Beaty, Ph.D., president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Already there's evidence that children in the United States break their arms more often today than four decades ago — girls suffer breaks 56 percent more often, while boys suffer breaks 32 percent more often, according to a Mayo Clinic study. Some say this is due to newer forms of risky play — like inline skates — but Kalkwarf's hospital recently found that kids who break an arm have lower bone density than their playmates who don't.

Doctors have long known that less than a quarter of adolescents get enough calcium, but strong bones require more than calcium alone. Exercise is at least as important. (Consider this: The dominant arm of a tennis player has 35-percent more bone than the non-dominant arm.)

Likewise, the body can't absorb calcium and harden bones without vitamin D, which is absorbed by the body following exposure to sunlight. But by some estimates, 30 percent of teens get too little of the “sunshine vitamin”. This is suspected to be the result of increased teen computer use, a lack of safe places to play outdoors and less school physical education keeping kids and adolescents inside and away from the sun. In addition, because skin pigment alters a person’s rate of sun absorption, black children are particularly at risk.

Rickets marks the worst deficiency, where bones become so soft that legs literally bow. Rickets was once thought to have been eradicated with milk fortification, but the comeback of the disease suggests that there is more to solving the problem.

“I am now treating rickets in a way that I never treated it 20 years ago,” says Laura Tosi, Ph.D., bone health chief at Children's National Medical Center in Washington.

She diagnoses rickets or super-low D levels in children every month at a bone clinic she runs for mostly inner-city children. Fortunately, rickets caught early is easily cured with high-dose infusions of vitamin D and calcium. However, Tosi says it’s the kids whose vitamin D levels haven’t gotten quite low enough to produce symptoms of deficiency that she worries about, because they may never get treated.

Source: http://www.lookingfit.com/hotnews/7bh279755.html

Osteoporosis a silent killer

It's a killer, but you won't see osteoporosis listed as the cause of death in an obituary.

But it's definitely deadly. Dr. Diane Theriault, a Nova Scotia rheumatologist and national spokesperson for Osteoporosis Canada, will attest to that.

More women die from complications of osteoporosis than from breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer combined, she pointed out in a telephone interview from the Maritimes. And more men die from complications of osteoporosis than from prostate cancer.

"It's often assumed that if you have a broken bone, it's no big deal. It's not like cancer or heart attacks. You just put a cast on it and off you go.

"The fact is, it's not that simple at all," emphasized Theriault, a tireless advocate for improved access to bone mineral density (BMD) testing,

"It doesn't kill people the day of the (bone) fracture," she pointed out. But "it's a huge risk."

For example, 20-per-cent of women and 34 per cent of men will die within a year of breaking their hip from osteoporosis.

To put that into perspective, Theriault pointed out that after open-heart surgery or a coronary bypass, the expected mortality is one per cent, compared with the 20 per cent or 34-per-cent risk of mortality in one year after breaking a hip.

But osteoporosis doesn't have the public awareness that other diseases have, Theriault said frankly.

November is Osteoporosis Month. To raise awareness of the disease, which affects more than 1.4 million Canadians, bone china tea fundraisers are being held across the country. Theriault is in Regina this weekend speaking at the Regina Chapter of Osteoporosis Canada's bone china tea, which takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday on the main stage at the Conexus Arts Centre.

Misconceptions abound when it comes to osteoporosis.

"Have you got five hours?" Theriault responded when the subject was broached.

The biggest misconception, she said, is that osteoporosis is a disease of old age. It's not. It can strike at any age.

"It's no more a disease of old age than heart disease or diabetes. But it is a bit more common in the older people," she explained.

And it's not just a women's disease.

While it is common in women -- one in three will end up with a fracture due to osteoporosis -- it's not that rare in men either, Theriault pointed out. One in five men will suffer a fracture from osteoporosis during their lifetime.

"It's not a disease of little old women," she emphasized. "That's probably the biggest misconception."

Another misconception has to do with the prevention specifically who to treat, and when to treat them. The trick is to start treatment for those at risk early enough to prevent the first fracture, but not unnecessarily early.

"Because our medications are very effective, and they work within about 12 months of starting treatment, and they do reduce the risk of fractures very significantly, then our job is to try to pick up individuals who are at risk of fractures. And we don't want to pick them out 70 years before that fracture, because then we'd be subjecting them to 70 years of treatment before the fracture comes," Theriault said.

Source: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=d7fa5abd-40e6-4563-9b35-336998171256&k=48372

Break a bone ... not

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that can usually be prevented.

OSTEOPOROSIS is a disease people often do not know they have until they break a bone.

Bone thinning due to osteoporosis affects millions of people around the world. While 80% of those affected are women, men are also at risk, and the disease can strike at any age.

Osteoporosis literally means “porous bones” and it is a condition characterised by calcium-depleted bones that become fragile and weak.

Between 2-4% of a person’s skeleton is remodelled every year. This means that calcium and other minerals (magnesium, zinc, copper, boron, manganese) leave the bone in a process called resorption and then must be “remodelled” or replaced.

If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.

Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalisation 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, deformity and so on.

Whether due to poor nutrition or reduced hormone levels with the onset of ageing, the loss of calcium and other minerals from the bone creates tiny holes that make bones weak and brittle, particularly if collagen is lost. This is how osteoporosis develops.

Building and maintaining bone mass is paramount to avoiding osteoporosis. By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98% of her skeletal mass.

Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defence against developing osteoporosis later.

There are five steps, which together, can optimise bone health and help prevent osteoporosis. They are:

Diet: Eating foods rich in calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, boron and copper such as milk, broccoli, fish and dark green vegetables.

Weight-bearing and resistance-training exercises: Bones, like muscles, grow stronger when regularly stressed.

A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake.

If you are not meeting the required intake of calcium and other minerals through diet, you should consider taking supplements.

The importance of calcium supplementation has long been recognised in bone health. However, as important as calcium is to bone health, it is found that in the US, only 25% of women with osteoporosis are calcium deficient.

New evidence clearly shows that vitamin D, magnesium, copper, zinc, boron and manganese are also vital for maintaining strong and healthy bone.

These nutrients should all be consumed together for optimal bone metabolism. Even the absence of one nutrient can result in weak bones and osteoporosis.

Calcium plays an important role in maintaining bone. Calcium alone cannot prevent or cure osteoporosis, but it is an important part of an overall prevention or treatment program. The US RDA (recommended daily allowances) for calcium is as follows:

Adults and teenagers – 800 to 1200mg per day.

Pregnant and breast-feeding females – 1200mg per day.

Children four to 10 years of age – 800mg per day.

Children from birth to 3 years of age – 400 to 800mg per day.

Vitamin D helps body absorb calcium. Low levels of vitamin D are common in women, especially the elderly. Deficiencies of vitamin D can lead to calcium deficiencies, leading to soft bones (osteomalacia). Experts recommend a daily intake of between 400 and 800 international units (IU).

Magnesium is essential for both the preservation and mobilisation of calcium in the bone and is required for the utilisation of vitamin D.

Magnesium deficiency is common and is a leading risk factor for osteoporosis. The US RDA for magnesium is 400mg per day.

Manganese is a trace mineral required for the synthesis of connective tissue that form the matrix upon which mineral deposition occurs. The recommended daily intake for manganese is 2mg.

Boron is needed to convert vitamin D into its active form, which explains why boron deficiency affects calcium metabolism and bone formation.

Boron reduces calcium loss from bones. Although there is no official RDA for boron, a dosage of 1.5 to 3.0mg daily is safe and adequate (Murray, 1996).

Zinc supports bone formation by enhancing the action of vitamin D. Zinc helps maintain bone structure and is involved in bone development.

Copper deficiency may lead to abnormal bone deposition. Copper helps form the building blocks of bone.

When shopping for a calcium supplement, do ensure that it also contains the other essential nutrients mentioned above in adequate amounts to support strong and healthy bones.

Prevention of osteoporosis should begin at birth by meeting the human dietary requirements for calcium and other nutrients and should continue thereafter.

Reference:
1. National Osteoporosis Foundation (nof.org)
Source: http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2007/11/18/health/19486505&sec=health

Geisinger rheumatologists redesign osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis care

DANVILLE, PA. – With the nation collectively spending about $18 billion per year on osteoporosis related bone fractures, Geisinger researchers found that streamlining the ordering process for osteoporosis bone density scans quadrupled the number of patients who received the exam.

An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis. Like most providers, Geisinger Health System measures the mineral content in the bones of patients who are at high-risk for osteoporosis through DXA scans.

Follow-up exams are usually needed to assess how the disease has progressed. Geisinger’s rheumatology department removed some of the steps involved, shifted the responsibility of ordering the exam from the patient’s primary care provider to the rheumatology staff and made greater use of Geisinger’s $80 million Electronic Health Record.

Before the change, 18% of patients received the test. After the test, 88% received the scan.

“A broken bone from osteoporosis can be excruciating and hard to recover from,” said Eric Newman, MD, Geisinger’s Rheumatology Director. “Testing for osteoporosis is the first step in preventing these breaks.”

Results of the study were presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting in Boston recently. Geisinger had four presentations at the meeting, the most ever for the department.

The other work included:

Plenary Presentation - The first in-depth study of new care recommendations that were issued by the American College of Rheumatology. Geisinger examined the records of over 1,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis to see how many patients received certain suggested care benchmarks such as joint exams and use of medication.

Among the study’s key findings was that 94% of the patients received disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, which ease pain, reduce inflammation and reduce or prevent joint damage. This was far higher than anticipated, Newman noted.

While more than 3,000 study abstracts were submitted for the meeting, this was one of just 14 studies that were accepted as plenary presentations.

The third study found that treatment decisions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are altered if doctors have all of a patient’s data immediately in front of them in several summarizing charts, as opposed to having the information scattered throughout many pages in the Electronic Health Record and in paper files.

The fourth study examined how fellowship training for rheumatologists has improved significantly by adding a specific osteoporosis training curriculum.

“It was an outstanding year for us,” Newman said. “These studies reflect our staff’s talent and commitment to delivering the best care to our patients.”

###
The studies were conducted by rheumatology fellows Leena Adhikesavan MD and Mark Diehl DO, primary care physician Nancy Gilhooley MD, staff rheumatologists Thomas Olenginski, MD and Androniki Bili, MD, MPH, fellowship director Thomas Harrington MD and Newman.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/ghs-grr111607.php

Research Profile November 2007 - November is Osteoporosis Month

We take a look at your bones

You probably don't think about your skeleton too much as it quietly
supports you through the day. But your bones are much more vulnerable than you may realize. Osteoporosis, a painful and debilitating disease characterized by the gradual loss of bone density, strikes one out of four women and one out of eight men over the age of 50.

Do your bones a favour: visit CIHR's website to find out what Canadian researchers are doing to improve osteoporosis screening, treatment and prevention.

This month is featuring four stories on osteoporosis that you can publish
each week.

- How to mend a broken bone - try glue
- Mothers helping in the fight to beat osteoporosis
- Raising the alarm against the silent thief
- Bones at risk in people taking anti-depressants

This information is available on the Web at
www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/35204.html

Source: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2007/01/c2969.html

Bones, fractures and sprains

Fractures and dislocations, but especially fractures, can be missed at any age but this is more likely in children or old people

Fractures and dislocations, but especially fractures, can be missed at any age but this is more likely in children or old people.

Children most often break their arms, legs or collarbones � a fractured collarbone is obvious but needs complex treatment. A child’s broken bone is usually detected because of greater pain than expected from the accident. The child is reluctant to move the limb or to allow it to be touched. Tenderness and pain on pressure is greatest at the fracture site.

A patient shouldn’t be moved if damage to the spine, whether back or neck, is a possibility, but otherwise immobilise the limb and take the child to hospital.

A fracture resulting in displacement or malalignment of the bone makes diagnosis obvious. There will often be swelling over the site, with bruising. If it is a comminuted fracture (where the bone is broken into more than two pieces), deformity and swelling are likely to be greater.

A simple fracture is one where there is a clean break and the overlying skin and tissue are not torn. An open fracture leaves the site of the bone exposed to infection.

A green-stick fracture in children is where the bone is bent and cracked, like a bent green branch, rather than snapped.

The object of any treatment is to restore mobility and prevent lasting deformity or damage to a joint adjacent to the fracture. Children’s bones heal more quickly than adult ones.

In the elderly, bones are fragile from osteoporosis, and failing eyesight and balance is poor so that spines and hips are frequently fractured. Careful examination of older people reveals that around a fifth have had compression fractures of a spinal vertebra that has collapsed. If the fracture has left the spine unstable or pressing on the spinal cord or nerves, urgent treatment may be necessary.

Hip fractures are sometimes initially undetected � with tragic results. Older people who fall should have hip joints tested. If the thigh bone has been fractured without initial displacement, the angle at which the ankle is held when lying flat provides the clue.

Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/our_experts/article2530086.ece

Bone Drug Prevents Deaths, Broken Bones

ATLANTA (AP) — For the first time, an osteoporosis drug has reduced deaths and prevented new fractures in elderly patients with broken hips, according to new research.

Some experts called the drop in deaths "striking" but said other drugs could have a similar effect.

In the study, there were 28 percent fewer deaths and 35 percent fewer fractures in the group that got a once-a-year infusion of the bone drug Reclast compared to those who got a dummy treatment.

No other osteoporosis drug study published in at least 15 years has shown such a pronounced reduction in deaths, said Dr. Kenneth Lyles of Duke University Medical Center, the lead author.

The study was released online Monday by The New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with a presentation at a medical conference in Hawaii. It will be published in a later edition of the journal.

The research was funded by Novartis, which makes Reclast, and Lyles has two patent applications for the use of the drug. Under the name Zometa, the drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cancer patients in 2002. It was approved for post-menopausal osteoporosis last month, under the name Reclast.

More than 300,000 hip fractures occur in the United States each year. Often they trigger a downward spiral — roughly one in five elderly victims die within a year of breaking their hip.

Generally, doctors tell hip-fracture patients to take Fosamax and other bisphosphonates, a class of osteoporosis drugs that stops bone breakdown. But many patients do not take the pills because they cause heartburn and other symptoms. They also are a hassle for elderly patients: You must take it on an empty stomach in the morning, and wait a half hour before eating.

For the study, researchers recruited about 2,000 patients from 23 countries who were not taking oral bisphosphonates. Their average age was 74 and most were women. All had previously broken a hip.

Half of the participants received Reclast, which is a bisphosphonate given in an infusion.

Over the next two years, 139 of the patients in the placebo group had new broken bones, or about 14 percent. Just 92 of the treated patients had second fractures, or about 9 percent.

More surprising, 141 died in the placebo group, or about 13 percent, compared to 101 in the treatment group, about 10 percent.

The cause of death was never determined for many, including more than half of those who died in the Reclast group.

"There's no question that we had a death benefit. We can't tell you why we had a death benefit," Lyles said.

Some study participants were taking hormones or other drug therapies, but such cases were balanced between the two groups and did not explain the benefit, he said.

The researchers gave vitamin D, which helps strengthen bones, to all study participants to address harmful deficiencies in some patients. But they said the study benefits were over and above the benefit of the added vitamin D.

It's not likely the Reclast study will be repeated. Scientists say the value of bisphosphonates has now been clearly proven, and it would be unethical to do another study in which the drug is withheld from some participants.

"The reduction in fracture incidence and death was striking and clearly establishes the need for pharmacologic interventions in patients who fracture a hip," wrote Karim Anton Calis and Frank Pucino, two pharmacy experts, in an editorial accompanying the study.

The study should cause more physicians to prescribe Reclast or other bisphosphonates to hip-fracture patients, said Dr. Roberto Pacifici, an Emory University osteoporosis expert

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gvhmv6tr5sEfYWbJE1BF9MRVuajA

Half of women with thinning bones 'are left untreated'

Hundreds of thousands of women at high risk of broken hips are not getting preventive drugs, says a new study.

GPs are failing to treat one in two patients who have been officially diagnosed with thinning bones, despite the life-threatening consequences of suffering a major fracture.

The research released today comes as osteoporosis campaigners are stepping up opposition to NHS guidelines that would ration preventive treatment to just one cheap drug.

But around one in four women needing bone protection cannot take the drug alendronate because of crippling stomach side effects.

Osteoporosis is known as the silent epidemic because there are often no symptoms before a victim breaks a bone.

Almost one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone, with many hip fractures ending in premature death.

The latest study being released today at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester shows even patients found to be at risk are not getting help.

An audit of 12,500 records on patients in North Tyneside identified 128 patients at risk of future fractures based on previous broken bones, or the use of DEXA scanning to pick up thinning bones.

Of these patients, 113 were officially diagnosed with osteoporosis yet only half (67 patients) were receiving currently recommended treatment with bone protecting bisphosphionate drugs, calcium and vitamin D.

Those aged below 74 and at risk should have treatment based on the results of a bone scan, but the study showed this occurred in only a quarter of all cases.

Researcher Wasim Baqir, the lead pharmacist for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, said 'It's very important that people who are at risk of falling and fracturing bones receive appropriate bone protection treatment.

'Pharmacists have a key role to play in helping patients understand the importance of why they are prescribed these preventative medicines, and what the consequences can be if they don't take them.'

However, campaigners say guidelines drawn up by the Government's 'rationing' body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), are too restrictive on testing for patients at risk and the treatment they are entitled to.

NICE plans to recommend the use of just one mandatory treatment alendronate, which is the cheapest treatment available at around £5 a month.

But NICE has refused to approve any alternative drugs on the NHS for one in four patients who cannot tolerate the drug or do not respond to it. Such drugs can cost about £17 a month.

An appeal against the guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Society, to be heard next month, says the drug restrictions would leave hundreds of thousands of patients untreated.

The charity is planning to petition the Prime Minister about the proposals, due to be confirmed next month, which will also limit treatment mostly to people over 70.

Nick Rijke, NOS public and external affairs director, said 'The evidence is now overwhelming that vast numbers of women are not getting the treatment they need for osteoporosis.

'In recommending only one drug, NICE are standing in the way of medical progress.

'People have a reasonable expectation that they should have access to the drug that is most beneficial to them and which causes them least side effects.

The NICE decision prevents this. Having such a hard age cut off is also very unhelpful.

Although age related, osteoporosis does not suddenly hit people on their 70th birthday.

'Many thousands of women are going through the pain and suffering of broken bones unnecessarily.

'It is simply unacceptable that so few women get any treatment at all and that even those who are given prescriptions are so often denied drugs that suit them.'

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=480953&in_page_id=1774

Calcium for the over-50s prevents broken bones

Australian scientists say people over the age of 50 should take supplements of calcium in order to reduce the risk of bone damage should they fall.
The scientists from the University of Western Sydney suggest that daily calcium supplements would prevent one in four fractures in this age group.

The scientists reached their conclusion after a three and a half year study examining the combined results of 17 studies involving more than 50,000 people over 50 who were given calcium supplements.

They discovered that supplements reduced the risk of fractures by 12% but when the proper dose of 1,200mg was taken every day the risk was reduced by 24%.

A connection was also established between the reduced risk and an appropriate dosage of vitamin D.

Subjects ingesting over 800 International Units each day experienced a 16 percent risk reduction and, in comparison, people taking less vitamin D enjoyed only a 13 percent reduction.

Many medical experts maintain that vitamin D helps the stomach absorb calcium, but the study showed that calcium worked just as well with or without it.

Lead author Benjamin Tang says the advice may be optional for those who are fit, healthy and have a very good diet at 50, but those on a poorer diet who are older would gain more benefit.

Dr. Tang says they found that many people are not taking strong enough doses of calcium, or not taking them regularly enough, to reap the full benefits and most of the tablets taken are low dosage.

In older people and particularly in women osteoporosis and low bone density become major health problems, and fractures are a major cause of injury affecting as many as 10 million Americans.

Women suffer a faster loss of bone density after the menopause and osteoporosis, the loss of bone density is thought to cost health services millions each year.

Women have a one in six chance of fracturing a bone after the age of 50 and men a one in 20 chance.

Experts believe people should be able to get all the necessary calcium from a balanced diet and nowadays many cereals breads and margarines are fortified with calcium.

The researchers recommended a minimum daily dose of 1,200 mg in the case of calcium-only supplementation.

The benefit appeared to be more apparent in elderly people over 70 with a low body weight living in institutions.

Dr. Tang says the side effects of taking the correct dose of calcium were minimal with only a small number of people suffering mild stomach upsets.

Dr. Tang says most of the research he surveyed was based on women, who have a far higher chance of developing osteoporosis, and the advice would differ for men.

Experts suggest people with osteoporosis may benefit from a daily intake of 1,000 -1,200mg of calcium but also caution against exceeding the recommended limits of calcium as too much calcium can produce unpleasant side effects such as kidney stones.

They also say calcium supplements and vitamin D should be looked upon only as supplements and not as a replacement for a healthy diet rich in veggies, fruit, and grain products.

The study is published in the Lancet medical journal and was sponsored by the Australian Government.

Source: http://www.news-medical.net/?id=29122

Do broken hearts lead to broken bones?

OBJECTIVE: Mental distress may entail increased risk of hip fracture, but it is uncertain whether the effect consists solely of an indirect effect through use of medication, or whether it is also mediated through other mechanism. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between mental distress and risk of hip fracture in women, adjusted for medication (that is, use of tranquillisers/sedatives or hypnotics).

DESIGN: A three year follow up of hip fracture was conducted on 18,612 women, consisting of 92.5% of all women aged 50 years or older in a Norwegian county. Three hundred and twenty nine suffered a hip fracture. A mental distress index was based on questions about life dissatisfaction, nervousness, loneliness, sleep disorders, troubled and uneasy feelings, depression and impairment attributable to psychological complaints. Relative risk with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of hip fracture with respect to mental distress were controlled for medication, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical inactivity, and physical illness by means of Cox regression.

RESULTS: The 10% of women with the highest mental distress had more than twofold increased risk of hip fracture compared with the 10% of women with the lowest mental distress, after adjustment for age and medication. The relative risk was 1.95 (95% CI 1.2, 3.3) after additional control for BMI, smoking, physical inactivity, and physical illness. The relative risk of hip fracture for daily users of medication compared with never users was 2.1 (95% CI 1.6, 2.9). After adjusting for mental distress it was 1.5 (95% CI 1.0, 2.2).

CONCLUSIONS: Risk of hip fracture was positively related to mental distress, also after adjustment for medication use. The effect of tranquillisers/sedatives or hypnotics on hip fracture risk may be overestimated in studies with no adjustments for mental distress.

Source: http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/53/6/343

Muscle over fat

I suppose it is no different today than at any time in our nation's history, but why is only bad news considered to be news? Why can't we get daily updates about the success stories from our soldiers in Iraq? Why don't we get hourly news reports reinforcing our nation's farm products as wholesome and necessary?

I am not quite sure other than I realize that we, as humans, just aren't wired to relate to good news as well as that with a hint of a scare. If you are in need of a scare today, you might as well quit reading now. From this point forward, this column is reporting only good news that you otherwise probably wouldn't hear much about; so if you like it, tell all of your friends and neighbors.

"Milk does the body good" has been proven in a whole new sense at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Researchers compared the effects of drinking nonfat milk, a soy protein drink or a carbohydrate drink on muscle building and fat burning after subjects completed weight lifting workouts. The research was done by Stuart M. Phillips, Ph.D., associate professor of kinesiology and an exercise physiologist. The results have been published in the Aug. 1, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Phillips and his colleagues recruited 56 healthy young men, average age 22, and assigned them to drink milk, a soy drink or a carbohydrate drink immediately after their weight training exercises and then one hour later. The milk and soy drinks were matched for protein, fat, and carb content. Each had 18 grams of protein, 1.5 grams of fat and 23 grams of carbohydrates.

Participants weight-trained five days a week for 12 weeks, and all the participants were novices. They had not done any weight training for the past eight months. The exercises were done on standard weight training machines, which worked out all the major muscle groups, with participants increasing repetitions as they gained strength.

The milk drinkers gained the most muscle. "The gains of muscle in the milk group were 8.8 pounds, vs. 6 pounds for the soy group, vs. 5.3 pounds for the control group (drinking the carbohydrate drink)," says Phillips. "The group that drank the milk gained 60 percent more muscle than the carbohydrate group and 40 percent more than the soy group," Phillips says.

Those who drank milk also had more strength gains than the other two groups in two kinds of individual exercises: knee extensions and hamstring curls.

The milk drinkers also lost more body fat. "They lost almost 2 pounds of body fat," he says. "The soy group barely changed, in terms of body fat. It was about a third of a pound. In the control group (the carbohydrate drinkers) it was about a pound of body fat lost.

Experts have responded to these results indicating that they are not really sure why the milk protein is beneficial, but think that the calcium may allow your body to burn more fat. Interestingly enough--as our nation attempts to figure out why so many of our youths are overweight--could it be that we are overlooking some simple reasons: too much couch time, poor drink choices and not enough milk?

The National Institute of Health indicates that fewer than one in 10 girls and just one in four boys ages 9 through 13 are getting enough calcium. Some experts call osteoporosis a juvenile disease because poor bone mass in adulthood often begins in adolescence. Soda and sports drinks not only take the place of milk, but they also tie up calcium and vitamin D so that they are not available for use by the growing body. This results in tooth decay and an increased likelihood of broken bones.

During growth spurts, it is essential that growing children get enough calcium to supply their bones with needed nutrients. In fact, 90 percent of a person's peak bone mass for adulthood is established by the late teen years. The strength and health of an adult's bones largely depends on calcium intake during formative years.

Yet, we have seen a trend of kids drinking less milk every year. Activists have been trying to get milk and dairy products out of our kid's diets. And the results of this study confirm what farm families have known all along: Milk and dairy products are an essential part of your daily diet, no matter how old you are. Of course, naysayers have overlooked the fact that the first food substance we are provided at birth is milk. Would our maker have started us off on the wrong foot? We need to get back to a basic diet that includes milk, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables--and good, old-fashioned hard work--and we can make a big dent in the obesity problem in this country.

Source: http://www.hpj.com/archives/2007/aug07/aug27/Muscleoverfat.cfm

Pioneering surgery gets Irene walking

16 August 2007 - Just three weeks ago, Irene Godier was doubled over in excruciating pain and faced almost certain paralysis or even death because of the crippling damage to her spine.

Yet today the 79-year-old is able to walk in her garden with a smile, thanks to a Norfolk surgeon whom she describes as “a quite extraordinary man”.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Am Rai used a pioneering technique that he had gradually developed with his team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and rebuilt her spine using an expanding titanium cage.

The four-hour operation, which he believes is not undertaken anywhere else in the country, was Mrs Godier's only hope after a scan in May revealed that a vertebra in the small of her back had shattered and crumbled away due to the brittleness caused by osteoporosis.

The future looked bleak, with shards of broken bone pushing dangerously close to her spinal nerves and likely to lead to paralysis in her legs, problems with her bladder and bowel and ultimately death - but, instead, Mrs Godier was able to get back on her feet within two days of surgery.

“The x-rays showed she had broken her vertebra in the lumbar region - this is common in elderly people because the bone is very soft and weak so occasionally sneezing or coughing or a minor fall can cause a fracture,” said Mr Rai.

“She had a scan which showed that the broken fragments of bone were causing a pressure on the spinal nerves.

“This is quite a dangerous situation - the risk of paralysis is great and walking with crutches would damage the vertebrae further by walking about and pushing the bone in to the space which the spinal nerves would occupy.”

Usually, the major surgery would be more invasive, take 10 hours and involve months in hospital, but Mrs Godier had a comparatively rapid recovery.

“This sort of operation would normally mean making two incisions, one from the back and one in to the abdomen, but people are in hospital for months afterwards where as Mrs Godier had the operation and was mobile within 48 hours,” he said.

“This procedure can also help people with cancer of the spine and infection of the spine, and it's slowly been developed over a period of four years.

“It's a very expensive piece of metal but it has helped her discharge within 10 days and let her carry on with her life.”

Mr Rai said he will write a series about the technique, which he believes will be taken up at other hospitals.

“Surgery is getting more and more complex but we can offer a lot more and get the patient up and about and out of hospital much quicker.

“If you go back 10 years this patient would have been in hospital for months.”

Mrs Godier is now recuperating at home in Norwich and hopes to one day be rid of her crutches and visit her daughter in Antigua next year with her husband, Alec.

“I was a very active woman and knew I would never be the same again, whereas now I am walking around and feel a damn sight better than I was before the operation because I was screaming out in pain whenever I took a step,” she said.

“I think Mr Rai is quite an extraordinary man; to me I think that he's God brought down to earth.

“Obviously I'm extremely grateful to him, he has given me a new lease of life and as soon as I am able I will take him a big bottle of champagne.”

THE OPERATION

Mr Rai and his team fixed screws to healthy vertebrae, which were connected by rods above and below the fracture in Mrs Godier's spine.

They then took out the broken vertebra through an incision in her back and, using this same opening, placed the expanding titanium cage in the gap to support her weight.

“We put the cage in to the front of the vertebra through a very small space that's probably about two centimetres across, without touching or damaging the nerves,” said Mr Rai. “If you do, the patient is going to be paralysed.”

Source: http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED16%20Aug%202007%2008%3A12%3A35%3A470

Osteoporosis – Not Just a Woman’s Concern

Women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, but the diagnosis of osteoporosis in men is often overlooked or undiagnosed.

The Woodlands, TX -- While May was National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, Northwest Diagnostic Clinic continues to elevate the awareness of this fragile bone disease in men, while promoting healthy bone fitness and encouraging bone density testing for both women and men.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 2 million American men have osteoporosis, and another 12 million are at risk for this disease. Yet, despite the large number of men affected, osteoporosis in men remains under-diagnosed and underreported.

Men typically have larger and stronger bones, which explains in part, why osteoporosis affects fewer men than women, and because most of the focus about this bone disease concentrates on the risk factors for women, men think it ‘can’t happen to them.’

"Osteoporosis is a disease where bones become fragile, and if left untreated can progress painlessly until a bone breaks," notes Denis L. Galindo, M.D. "These broken bones or fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist. Prolonged exposure to certain medications, smoking, excessive alcohol use, low calcium intake, low Vitamin D levels, inadequate physical exercise, age, heredity, and race are some of the risk factors in men associated with osteoporosis. If you notice a loss of height, change in posture, or sudden back pain, it is important to inform your doctor or if age 70 or greater, you should inquire about BMD testing."

Northwest Diagnostic Clinic can accommodate bone density tests at both The Woodlands and Cypress Station locations on their GE/Lunar Prodigy bone densitometers. This low-emission imaging system provides excellent reporting of the health of a patient's bones, helping our physicians to diagnose and treat osteoporosis and osteopenia, and to monitor the "bone health" of patients on certain long-term medications.

This service is generally covered by most insurance plans and Medicare provides for biannual screening exams for patients meeting certain clinical criteria. If you are already a Northwest Diagnostic Clinic patient, contact your physician's nurse to arrange a referral for this test. If not, you can request an appointment with one of our physicians.


Source: http://woodlandsonline.com/npps/story.cfm?nppage=21275

Bone group in plea for help

A SUPPORT group is calling for dedicated facilities in York for sufferers of a bone deteriorating disease.

The appeal comes after one woman said she had to wait four years before being given a vital scan.

Pauline Bartle, who has osteoporosis, said that before she had the DEXA scan - used to measure bone density - she was put on the wrong medication and her condition deteriorated.

Enid Webster, of the York Support Group of the National Osteoporosis Society, said the group was pushing for a scanner at York Hospital.

Enid, 78, of Osbaldwick, said: "Many members have been advised a scan is only available privately at the Nuffield Hospital, in York, or through a referral from a hospital consultant which they say is difficult to get.

"We do have problems with different doctors giving out different advice. The procedures need to be made clear to everyone to prevent any patients suffering unnecessarily."

The group is also pushing for a specific osteoporosis consultant at the hospital rather than being treated by consultants from related disciplines.

Pauline, 71, of Hull Road said: "I was put a drug to treat osteoporosis and I was advised by my GP that in three years time I should go for a scan.

"When the three years came up, I returned to my doctor and was told I could not have the scan because the service had been removed under the PCT.

"It was only with the help of the York osteoporosis support group that meant I kept on pushing for the scan that I eventually got one through a hospital consultant.

"After I had the scan the results showed that my condition had deteriorated and I had three fractured vertebrae, rather than two as before.

"I think it is 100 per cent imperative that everyone who needs it is given the option to have a scan at York Hospital and they should be referred by their GP."

Dr Geddes for the North Yorkshire and York NHS Primary Care Trust said: "I cannot comment on a particular case but while there is not a scanner at York hospital, patients at risk of osteoporosis can be referred by their GP to the Nuffield Hospital for a scan.

Dr Ian Woods, medical director at York Hospital said: "It would be unusual for a hospital this size to have its own osteoporosis specialist because osteoporosis shows itself in many different ways.

"It may become clear from someone who has broken a bone, or someone taking hormone replacement therapy, or from a problem with a person's metabolism.

"Because it can come up as a condition in many different areas of the hospital, its treatment is covered by people such as orthopaedics, dieticians, and occupational therapists."

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to become thin and weak. It happens more commonly in old age when the body becomes less able to replace worn out bone.

In some cases osteoporosis can be severe. About three million people in the UK have osteoporosis and there are over 230,000 fractures every year as a result.

Source: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/yorknews/display.var.1588733.0.bone_group_in_plea_for_help.php

Diagnosing Osteoporosis - Solving The Broken Bones Mystery

Osteoporosis can occur when there is a loss of bone density and strength due to a variety of factors.

Osteoporosis may be related to aging, certain types of medications, or other health related conditions. A diagnosis of osteoporosis is often made while diagnosing a fracture.

It is important that osteoporosis is diagnosed early so that accurate and aggressive treatment management can occur in order to reach the best outcome.

Not only the financial cost but the health costs associated with a missed diagnosis of or even an inaccurate diagnosis of osteoporosis can be very high. The health consequences associated with an inaccurate or omitted diagnosis of osteoporosis can be seen for years to come.

When initially diagnosed saying osteoporosis, your physician must make the determination of whether the osteoporosis is a primary or secondary diagnosis. Primary osteoporosis means it that the diagnosis is a stand-alone diagnosis, meaning that there is no other health issue that is causing it.

However, with a secondary diagnosis of osteoporosis this means that there is another health condition which is causing the osteoporosis. Some other health conditions which can lead to a secondary diagnosis of osteoporosis include conditions such as multiple myeloma, lymphoma, diabetes, Cushing's disease, hyperthyroidism, osteogenesis imperfecta, and even Marfan's syndrome.

The best medical test on today's market for diagnosing osteoporosis is the DEXA scan. Considered the gold standard by many healthcare providers, the DEXA scan is completely painless for patients and only takes about 10 minutes to perform. The scan uses limited amounts of radiation to scan the bones of the wrist, the spine or the hip to assess general bone density.

This can help your physician to make a definitive diagnosis of osteoporosis as well as help your physician to determine if compared to others in your age and gender control group you have a higher risk of developing an osteoporosis related fracture.

Diagnosing osteoporosis is a fairly straightforward procedure that your general healthcare provider can handle. But even though it is an easy diagnosis to make, it is one that is critical to your overall health.

So as you age and particularly if you are female or if you have other health conditions that put you at risk for osteoporosis, make sure that you work closely with your physician to make sure that you are appropriately screened for osteoporosis.

Diagnosing osteoporosis is one diagnosis that you can't afford for your healthcare provider to miss.

Article Tags: Back Pain, Lower Back Pain, Osteoporosis, Low Back Pain, Sore Back

About the Author:
For more important information on back pain, causes of back pain, back pain relief, and more, visit www.0-backpain.com where you'll find articles and information on what causes and relieving your back pain

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/diagnosing-osteoporosis-solving-the-broken-bones-mystery-165639.html