Seven Key Questions to Ask Your Doctor if you Have Osteoporosis

     Forty-four million Americans are affected by weak bone, the majority of which are over the age of 50. Ten million American are afflicted with osteoporosis while approximately 34 million more are projected to have low bone mass, know as osteopenia, placing them at high risk for osteoporosis. The majority of those affected by osteoporosis are women. Fractures related to weak bones are very common in those over the age of 50

     To keep bones strong the body needs specific nutrients and hormones. Calcium and Vitamin D are the two most important nutrients in bone health. Calcium is a mineral that is critical to bone building. Vitamin D helps the body utilize calcium. The hormones estrogen, testosterone, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and growth hormone, play an important role in bone health.

     Osteoporosis occurs without symptoms. The first symptom is often a minor stress that causes a vertebra to collapse or a hip to fracture. The disease is associated with bones that are thin and less dense.

     You need to partner with the health care system to actively manage osteoporosis. Do not count on the health care system to take responsibility for managing your disease. The health care system will help, but if you want to avoid depression, disability and death, you need to be an active, responsible health care consumer.

     Becoming knowledgeable about disease is an important part of having a successful health care experience. Individuals must have a basic understanding of his or her disease. The better you understand your diseases the better you can partner in your medical care.

     No one has a greater interest vested in your well being than you. Physicians manage very busy office practices and may overlook some important aspects of your care. It is imperative that you help your health care providers give you the care that is needed to prevent death and disability.

     As part of health care responsibility you need to understand your disease.  Below are a list of questions you should ask your health care provider if you have osteoporosis.

1. What is my T-score? The T-score helps you understand how thin your bones are. It also helps gauge how well you are responding to therapy.
2. What caused this disease in me? Most individuals develop osteoporosis due to multiple risk factors. Having a conversation with your doctor will help you understand what caused your disease and help you reduce risk factors.
3. What are my risk factors for this disease? Knowing your risk factors will help you determine the best way to treat your disease and prevent risk for further complications.
4. When will I have my next DEXA scan? A DEXA scan – will give you your T-score – and gauges the severity of the disease. It will also help one assess response to therapy.
5. Could I benefit from medicines to increase my bone density? The most popular medicines to treat osteoporosis are bisphosphonates. If you are unable to take this type of medicine there are other medicines that can help.
6. How much calcium/vitamin D should I take in a day? It is recommended that everyone over the age of 65 take in at least 1200 mg of calcium a day. Calcium supplements have between 250-500 mg of calcium in them. Taking three 500 mg tablets is a common prescription but many people take one to two pills a day and assure that they get adequate calcium and vitamin D in the diet by eating foods, such as dairy products, that are rich in calcium and vitamin D. Vitamin D should be taken in doses of at least 700-800 IU a day
7. What type of exercise should I do? How often should I exercise? Weight bearing exercise is the most beneficial type of exercise to increase bone density. Weight training is another good form of exercise to strengthen the bones.

 For more information on osteoporosis check out a the free ebook: Chronic Disease Guide: How to Prevent and Treat Common Chronic Diseases.  The chapter on osteoporosis can be found at http://www.mini-medicalschool.com/Osteoporosis.html