Banishing Brittle Bones
 If
you don't want to join the 40,000 Rhode Islanders who suffer from
osteoporosis, bone up on the facts. Eighty percent of osteoporosis
sufferers are older women, who lose bone mass rapidly after menopause. But
while osteoporosis is associated with aging, it is not destiny.
There's a simple, painless way to
find out how your bones stack up. "Women should have a bone density
test at the time of menopause to measure bone loss or weakening,"
advises Douglas Kiel, MD, co-director of the osteoporosis research unit at
Rhode Island Hospital. Medicare now covers the cost.
Lifestyle improvements can prevent or halt bone loss. Weight-bearing
exercises, such as walking, help the body build bone. Calcium and vitamin
D are crucial building blocks. "If you are 50 to 65 years old, 1,000
milligrams of calcium a day is recommended; if you are over 65, take 1,500
milligrams," says Kiel, "but supplements and antacids containing
calcium are not all created equal. To find out whether your brand measures
up, put it in a glass and cover it with vinegar. If it hasn't dissolved
in a half-hour, it won't dissolve in your stomach either."
Vitamin D is necessary for calcium
absorption. Ten minutes of sunlight every day on hands and face provide an
adequate amount, but New Englanders don't usually get enough from this
natural source. The recommended daily dose is 200-400 IUs between ages 50
and 65; 600 IUs over 65. Salt, caffeine and alcohol interfere with calcium
levels, so it's wise to cut back on salty foods, and limit yourself to
two cups of coffee and no more than one glass of alcohol a day.
Medicine is waging war against osteoporosis on several fronts. Four
recently approved drugs slow the rate of bone loss and a new generation of
bone density machines will soon make scanning less expensive and more
accessible. Studies are also being conducted on several revolutionary
drugs that increase the rate at which the body makes bone tissue. If you'd
like more information, call Rhode Island Hospital's osteoporosis
research unit at 444-4715.
Learn more about:
Back |
