A lady’s threat of fracturing her hip from osteoporosis is the same as her threat 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 because 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 equivalent to 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 damaged hips can result in a shorter lifespan, and damaged spines may cause an incapability to face up straight, paralysis or, generally even demise.
One in 5 girls over age 50 will develop the bone situation of their lifetime, so HealthyWomen lately carried out a survey of 1,072 girls between the ages of 35 and 64 to evaluate consciousness of the illness in addition to data of screening for and prevention of this widespread situation.
As with so many ailments, consciousness and prevention are key to higher outcomes in the case 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 vitality X-ray absorptiometry, known as a DEXA or DXA scan, measures bone mineral density (BMD) and is really useful for everybody above age 65. Nevertheless, healthcare suppliers (HCPs) could suggest a DEXA scan earlier if they’ve a cause to suspect or wish to rule out osteoporosis or osteopenia, which is when an individual has decreased BMD but it surely’s not low sufficient to be osteoporosis. Widespread conditions the place an HCP would possibly order a scan at any age embody:
- A member of the family with bone well being points
- A latest bone break
- Use of medicines linked to bone well being points
- One other prognosis, equivalent to most cancers, that would compromise bone well being
Since our respondents have been below 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 recognized 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 threat.
Eshani Agrawal, 28, is an instance of somebody who has had a DEXA scan at a younger age because 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 generally 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 harm accomplished.” She defined that she’s annoyed that her bone well being could possibly be affected by medicine and wonders if some tooth sensitivity may additionally be related.
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 obtained a DEXA scan at 53 to supply her medical group a baseline quantity so they may monitor her BMD by the years. The scan confirmed she already had osteopenia. Her HCP advised her to get extra calcium in her food plan however didn’t take every other motion. At 62, she had one other scan and discovered her rating had dropped to -2.5, a rating that signifies osteoporosis. Her HCPs then started aggressively treating her situation, prescribing annual infusions which, just a few years later, have led to a rise in bone mass.
Just one in 4 girls had been warned of attainable bone loss
Simply as Agrawal skilled bone well being points as a aspect impact from medicine for different circumstances, Anna*, 69, was recognized 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 advised 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 recognized with breast most cancers weren’t suggested by their HCPs that some medicines, equivalent to sure most cancers therapies, in addition to most cancers itself, could put their bone well being in danger.
Anna was additionally stunned by her low BMD as a result of she was chubby, and he or she’d all the time thought osteopenia and osteoporosis are circumstances that underweight or regular weight girls develop, which isn’t essentially true. Each she and Leslie have since discovered that train can sluggish the progress of the illness and now stroll often, amongst different measures equivalent to consuming calcium-rich meals and maintaining with HCP follow-up visits.
Sadly, our survey taught us that, regardless of osteoporosis being a standard situation amongst girls, many aren’t conscious of the prevention and therapy methods they will take to chase away the illness. It’s vital for each lady to know how they will hold their bones wholesome and to study extra about bone well being. You should definitely speak to your HCP about your explicit threat.
*Anna is just not her actual identify.
This useful resource was created with assist from Amgen.
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