My City Wellness Spring 2021

MAY IS NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS MONTH COMPILED BY CHERYL DENNISON A ccording to Dr. Prabhat Pokhrel, osteoporosis is a loss of bone mass or bone mineral den

tions such as hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes and chronic liver disease. In addition, risk can be increased by regular alcohol use, diet low in calcium and vitamin D, or long-term use of medications such as steroid hormone, thyroid hormone (in high doses), certain anti-cancer medications and antidepressants (to name a few) and lack of regular exercise. Unfortunately, osteoporo sis does not have any specific symptoms. Therefore, it may go undetected for many years until fracture occurs or a posi tive screening by a healthcare provider. Bones commonly fractured in people with os teoporosis are vertebrae, hip and forearm. Vertebral frac ture may be asymptomatic and should be suspected if there is pain over the vertebrae (broken area) after coughing, sneezing or lifting. Loss of height is an other symptom, but again, not specific to osteoporosis. p SYMPTOMS

sity (BMD). About ten million Americans are affected by os teoporosis which in turn leads to bone fracture with minimal or even no obvious trauma. Normally, older bone tissues are replaced by new bone tissue throughout one’s life. Every ten years, a bone is replaced by a new bone. Decrease in the rate of new bone formation and/ or increase in the rate of bone destruction leads to osteopo rosis, which can be classified as primary or secondary. Osteoporosis is most com mon in post-menopausal women. Despite being common, it is underdiagnosed and under treated. Primary osteoporosis is related to aging, decrease in function of ovaries or testes. Sec ondary osteoporosis is related to certain chronic medical condi WHO IS AT RISK?

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