A lady’s danger of fracturing her hip from osteoporosis is the same as her danger of breast, uterine and ovarian most cancers — mixed. And half of all girls in the US who’re over age 50 will break a bone on account of osteoporosis, a situation that happens when your bone high quality declines and bone weakens.
Osteoporosis could make it really easy on your bones to interrupt that even on a regular basis actions reminiscent of stretching, twisting, bending too far backward or ahead, coughing, or bumping into one thing generally is a hazard. This may be severe as a result of broken hips can lead to a shorter lifespan, and damaged spines could cause an incapacity to face up straight, paralysis or, typically even loss of life.
One in five girls over age 50 will develop the bone situation of their lifetime, so HealthyWomen not too long ago performed a survey of 1,072 girls between the ages of 35 and 64 to evaluate consciousness of the illness in addition to information of screening for and prevention of this widespread situation.
As with so many ailments, consciousness and prevention are key to higher outcomes on the subject of osteoporosis, but our survey revealed that just one in 4 of our respondents have been involved about their bone well being.
DEXA scan — a measure of bone well being
Twin power X-ray absorptiometry, referred to as a DEXA or DXA scan, measures bone mineral density (BMD) and is advisable for everybody above age 65. Nevertheless, healthcare suppliers (HCPs) could advocate a DEXA scan earlier if they’ve a motive to suspect or need to rule out osteoporosis or osteopenia, which is when an individual has decreased BMD but it surely’s not low sufficient to be osteoporosis. Frequent conditions the place an HCP may order a scan at any age embrace:
- A member of the family with bone well being points
- A current bone break
- Use of medicines linked to bone well being points
- One other analysis, such as cancer, that would compromise bone well being
Since our respondents have been underneath the age of 65, it’s not stunning that 81% of them didn’t know their bone density rating. Of those that did know, the bulk have been respondents who’re involved about osteoporosis or osteopenia, together with girls who’re taking medicine for both situation.
Of our respondents who have been identified with breast most cancers and suggested that they have been in danger for osteopenia or osteoporosis, 65% hadn’t had a DEXA scan up to now two years regardless of their elevated danger.
Eshani Agrawal, 28, is an instance of somebody who has had a DEXA scan at a younger age on account of being in a high-risk class. She has ulcerative colitis, a illness of the colon, and has taken medicines to fight flare-ups that typically have an effect on bone well being. “Since I used to be at a comparatively excessive dose, the physician requested me to get a DEXA scan,” she mentioned. “It seems that there could have been some injury completed.” She defined that she’s pissed off that her bone well being might be affected by medicine and wonders if some tooth sensitivity may also be linked.
Donna Leslie, 65, has been looking out for bone well being points since she was 50 as a result of her older sister and mom each have osteoporosis. When Leslie’s mom was in her 50s, she rolled her ankle and broke it. Conscious of her mom’s historical past, Leslie received a DEXA scan at 53 to offer her medical workforce a baseline quantity so they might monitor her BMD by means of the years. The scan confirmed she already had osteopenia. Her HCP instructed her to get extra calcium in her food plan however didn’t take every other motion. At 62, she had one other scan and realized her rating had dropped to -2.5, a score that indicates osteoporosis. Her HCPs then started aggressively treating her situation, prescribing annual infusions which, a number of years later, have led to a rise in bone mass.
Just one in 4 girls had been warned of potential bone loss
Simply as Agrawal skilled bone well being points as a aspect impact from medicine for different situations, Anna*, 69, was identified with osteopenia after a DEXA scan revealed low BMD scores in each hips. She had been taking a hair-loss medicine that she hadn’t been instructed might have an effect on bone well being. Anna’s not alone in her shock — the HealthyWomen survey revealed one in 4 girls who have been identified with breast most cancers weren’t suggested by their HCPs that some drugs, reminiscent of sure most cancers therapies, in addition to most cancers itself, could put their bone well being in danger.
Anna was additionally shocked by her low BMD as a result of she was chubby, and she or he’d all the time thought osteopenia and osteoporosis are situations that underweight or regular weight girls develop, which isn’t essentially true. Each she and Leslie have since realized that train can sluggish the progress of the illness and now stroll repeatedly, amongst different measures reminiscent of consuming calcium-rich meals and maintaining with HCP follow-up visits.
Sadly, our survey taught us that, regardless of osteoporosis being a typical situation amongst girls, many aren’t conscious of the prevention and treatment strategies they will take to chase away the illness. It’s essential for each girl to know how they will hold their bones wholesome and to be taught extra about bone well being. You’ll want to speak to your HCP about your explicit danger.
*Anna shouldn’t be her actual identify.
This useful resource was created with help from Amgen.
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