Bone Density Loss & Osteoporosis – The Silent Mobility Thief?
In February, the New York Times published an interesting article, ‘A Perfect Storm For broken Bones’, authored by Jane E. Brody, in their health section that discusses the factors that are brewing for aging Americans in the United States that may lead to more broken bones and debilitating mobility loss.
The combination of factors includes patients not being tested and not being treated for Osteoporosis or bone density problems and additional patients who are prescribed treatments who simply do not take their prescribed medications.
While everyone recognizes how terribly painful broken bones are, how many of us realize that a simple broken bone in an aging person often leads to an incredibly reduced quality of life and sometimes the complete loss of mobility?
Truly a serious crisis on the horizon, an excerpt from the article as stated by Dr. Khosla, who is a bone specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, includes the serious concern that, “About 20 percent to 30 percent of patients die within a year following a hip fracture and, the researchers reported, “Of those who survive, many do not regain their pre-fracture level of function. About 50 percent of patients with hip fractures will never be able to ambulate without assistance and 25 percent will require long-term care.”
Did you know that Osteoporosis disproportionately affects women?
Of the 10 million cases diagnosed a year in the United States, 8 million, or 80% of patients are women. Simply being a female puts you at risk. Being a female approaching age 50 or entering the menopausal stage puts you at higher risk.
Our passion at The Woman’s Group is serving women through all ages and stages of life. We offer innovative testing for Osteoporosis and bone density and can discuss thoughtful treatment options for each patient, locally.
We believe in preventative care now to protect our wonderful patients from succumbing to painful breaks and the loss of mobility in their golden years.
Just What is Osteoporosis? How Does it Affect Bone Density, and How Could Mobility and Quality of Life Be Affected?
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation; “Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.
Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone.
Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break.”
Women produce a hormone that protects this bone structure, called Estrogen. As a woman ages and hits menopause, her Estrogen production greatly decreases. This can cause bone density loss, weakening bones so much that a simple fall or pressure may lead to serious breaks.
How Can The Woman’s Group Help?
The Woman’s Group offers whole body bone density testing right here in Tampa for our perimenopausal and postmenopausal patients. We can determine if you do have Osteoporosis and prescribe the proper treatment if necessary.
Our in-house DEXA scan (or Dual – Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) uses very low doses of radiation (10% of radiation used in traditional chest x-ray) to measure bone density.
With the results of this test, we can ascertain if your bone density is appropriate and treat osteoporosis if present.
Who Should Consider Bone Density Testing?
• Those who have a family history of osteoporosis
• Anyone who smokes or who has a history of smoking
• Those who have had a fracture or minor bone injury
• Those who have entered the menopause years
Osteoporosis and bone density loss may be silently wreaking havoc in your bones. Unless you are tested, you may not know until a break occurs and you experience reduced mobility and quality of life. The good news is, we have accurate testing and effective treatment options available now, right here in Tampa.
The key is finding it and treating it before your bones get too porous and before preventable accidents and injuries take your health and mobility away.
The physicians at The Woman’s Group agree and highly recommend the DEXA scan as a preventative answer to maintaining health and mobility, and peace of mind.
You can request an appointment quickly and easily online here:
Request An Appointment
Please notate DEXA scan in your request. Our DEXA scans are administered at our South Tampa office at 2716 W. Virginia Ave., Tampa, FL 33607.
We would also love for our patients to read the entire article about Osteoporosis for a broader view at this link “A Perfect Storm for Broken Bones”. The writer references the problems with past treatments, current trends, statistics, and new studies along with the statements and thoughts of leading specialists in the studies of Osteoporosis and bone density.
We look forward to seeing you soon and answering your specific questions about your bone health!