Newsletters

Fall 2010

Osteoporosis Treatment Secrets

OK, the headline is a bit of an exaggeration, but admit it…......... it got you reading this far, right? Keep on reading and you might learn something on 3 important topics for preventing fractures- falling, calcium and vitamin D. These are the fundamentals of good bone health that often get forgotten in the midst of other concerns.

Falling. If you have been a patient here for a while, you have probably heard the first rule of osteoporosis- “Don’t fall down.” Of course, it is always an accident when we fall, but we can reduce the risk of falling by paying more attention to a few simple things. First, keep your leg muscles strong. Those muscles on the front of your thigh, called quadriceps, need to work quickly to keep you upright if you start to stumble. We all lose muscle strength with aging, but we can fight that by keeping physically active. Walking, running, jumping, and aerobics are all great ways to do this. Second, try to keep good balance. We lose balance skills with aging. Have you tried to walk along the top of a fence lately? You might have done it as a kid, but it is probably a risky activity now. Try yoga, Tai Chi, or Pilates. Or just work on putting your socks on every morning while standing instead of sitting. Third, avoid medications, if possible, that cause dizziness, excessive sleepiness, or low blood pressure that might make you more likely to fall. Finally, keep your home safe. Consider a nightlight so you don’t trip in the dark. Get rid of hazards like slippery throw rugs or loose electrical cords that might cause trouble. Be safe and stay upright.

Calcium. We lose calcium every day in our urine and stool. If not replaced with dietary calcium or supplements, if needed, it will come out of your bones and your bones will get weaker. Adults over age 50 should have about 1200 mg every day. The best way to get it is in the diet, but many of us have calcium deficient diets and need supplements. As with anything in life, you can overdo it. Too much calcium may increase your risk of kidney stones. Taking a lot of calcium without vitamin D may even increase the risk of heart attacks, according to a recent report. The bottom line- get enough but not too much, and be sure to get enough vitamin D as well. Ask for one of our handouts to help you calculate your dietary calcium intake.

Vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D in the blood are very common. Vitamin D deficiency may cause osteoporosis or another problem with painful bones called osteomalacia. There are very few good dietary sources of vitamin D, so most of us need supplements. About 1000 IU per day is a good dose for most of us, and for some people, more is needed. To find out more about vitamin D, turn to the letter on the back page of this newsletter.

E. Michael Lewiecki, MD                                    
Lance A. Rudolph, MD

This page update10/04/10