Your bones are an enormous deal. Consider them because the framework for all times — with out bones, you’ll be able to’t do something, actually.
However until you’re in a forged or hobbling round on crutches, you’re in all probability not occupied with your spectacular skeleton as a lot as it is best to. And that may result in severe penalties.
Everybody experiences age-related bone loss. It’s pure. However girls usually tend to develop osteoporosis — a illness that weakens the bones. Of the ten million folks in america which have osteoporosis, 8 out of 10 are girls. And half of all girls over the age of fifty will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
The excellent news is that you may take steps to cut back your threat of getting injured and be proactive about your bone well being at any age. Step one is speaking to your healthcare supplier (HCP).
We all know it’s exhausting to recollect all of the questions it is best to ask, so we made it straightforward: Comply with the plan beneath for tips about the right way to put together on your appointment and a listing of inquiries to go over along with your HCP.
Put together on your go to
- Write down any questions you’ve got about bone well being on your HCP.
- Know what medicines you’re taking (together with dosage and frequency).
- Be ready to debate household historical past of fractures and/or bone illness(s), and private threat elements resembling medicines, smoking and alcohol use, weight loss plan, age and train.
- If visiting with a brand new healthcare supplier, come ready with any details about earlier scans, falls, and/or fractures.
Basic inquiries to ask your HCP
- Am I in danger for osteoporosis based mostly on my threat elements (e.g., household historical past, age, medical situations, weight loss plan missing calcium or D, smoking historical past, alcohol use, treatment use, lack of train)?
- Am I getting the correct vitamin to guard my bones? (You’ll be able to ask instantly about calcium and vitamin D consumption.)
- What workouts ought to I be doing to enhance bone energy?
- Do any of the medicines I’m utilizing trigger bone loss?
- Do any of the situations I’ve result in bone loss or put me at elevated threat of osteoporosis?
- Do I should be evaluated with a threat evaluation take a look at, like FRAX?
- Do I would like a screening take a look at for my bone mineral density or different diagnostic checks, like a DEXA scan, REMS ultrasound, or any others?
- Is there something I ought to do to enhance security in my dwelling to cut back threat of falls?
After a screening take a look at
- May you clarify my scan outcomes?
- What do they imply for my threat of osteoporosis?
When you have low bone density
- What remedy choices can be found to stop additional bone loss?
- Are there remedy choices to construct bone mass?
- When ought to I get one other scan?
- What else ought to I do to guard myself given my decrease bone density?
This instructional useful resource was created with assist from Amgen and UBC.
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