Submitted by The Bone Health Clinic at Millenium Pain Center
Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones become weak and are more likely to break. It is often called the “silent” disease because bone loss happens over time and occurs without any symptoms. In fact, a broken bone is often the first sign that bone weakening has occurred. It’s all too easy to ignore our bone health until it’s too late. Take this quiz to test your knowledge and determine if you might benefit from having more information about osteoporosis.
- Bone density reaches its peak in your 20s. TRUE FALSE
- If you have osteoporosis, even coughing could cause a bone to break. TRUE FALSE
- Osteoporosis doesn’t affect men. TRUE FALSE
- Being thin or of slight build increases your risk of osteoporosis. TRUE FALSE
- Loss of height may be the first sign that a person has spinal fractures due to osteoporosis. TRUE FALSE
- Swimming is the best exercise to help preventosteoporosis. TRUE FALSE
- One of the best ways to prevent osteoporosis is to consume adequate amounts of Vitamin D and calcium throughout your lifetime. TRUE FALSE
- The goal of treatment for osteoporosis is to restore bones to their original strength. TRUE FALSE
- Osteoporosis should be treated by an Osteopath. TRUE FALSE
Following are the answers — let’s see how well you did.
Answers:
#1 TRUE.
Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys. What’s more, bone mass peaks by the late 20s for most people, which means at this point bones have reached their maximum strength and density.
#2 TRUE.
Bones can become so weak and brittle that any sort of sudden strain or bump, including a cough, can cause vertebra to collapse. A fall is more likely to cause a fracture of the hip, wrist, or spine.
#3 FALSE.
Osteoporosis develops less often in men than in women because men have larger skeletons, their bone loss starts later and progresses more slowly, and they have no period of rapid hormonal change and bone loss. By age 65 or 70, men and women are losing bone mass at the same rate.
#4 TRUE.
Having lower body weight often means less muscle mass and the two are closely related. Small-framed women often eat less, and may therefore have a difficult time getting the proper nutrition. Other osteoporosis risk factors that you have no control over include age, ethnicity, and family history. Asian and Caucasian people have the highest risk, and bone mass naturally decreases as people age.
#5 TRUE.
The first sign that a person has experienced spinal fractures due to osteoporosis may be height loss of one inch or more. Multiple fractures of the vertebrae are also the cause of a “dowagers hump” or stooped posture. Often times, these types of fractures do not cause pain and people are unaware that they have occurred.
#6 FALSE.
While any type of exercise is better than inactivity, weight-bearing exercise like walking or jogging and strength or resistance training like lifting weights, push-ups, and squats are the most effective for bone health.
#7 TRUE.
Bone is living tissue that contains a lot of calcium. Calcium is also needed for the heart, muscles, and nerves to work properly, so if your body does not get enough calcium from the foods you eat, then it simply “steals” calcium from your bones. Calcium and Vitamin D go hand in hand. No matter how much calcium you consume, it cannot be absorbed and processed by the body without an adequate supply of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is made in the skin after exposure to sunlight. It is difficult to get enough Vitamin D from diet alone as it is naturally contained in only a few foods. Foods fortified with vitamin D, such as milk and cereals, are a major dietary source. Good sources of calcium include low-fat dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, and calcium-fortified foods such as orange juice, cereals, and breads.
#8 FALSE.
The goal of treatment is to prevent fractures by stopping further bone loss and minimizing risk for falling. It is possible to rebuild bone to a certain extent, but not back to the original strength.
#9 FALSE.
Although the terms osteoporosis and osteopath sound similar, there is no connection between the two. An Osteopath is a health professional that takes a very holistic approach to health care. There are many types of specialists that care for people with osteoporosis, including endocrinologists, rheumatologists, gynecologists, internists, and family physicians. Since treating and preventing osteoporosis is not a quick fix, a fracture liason service can be a valuable addition to treatment. A liason service works with your physician to make sure that you follow the recommended rehab plan, stay on any necessary medication, and provides education and support on nutrition, exercise, fall prevention, and other lifestyle changes.
For more information on osteoporosis, you may contact The Bone Health Clinic at Millennium Pain Center, 309-662-4321. They are located at 1015 Mercer Ave. in Bloomington. Elizabeth Madlem is a certified bone health consultant. The clinic provides screening, diagnosis, and a comprehensive treatment plan for people who have or are at risk of developing osteoporosis.