Osteoporosis and Overall Bone Health

OSTEOPOROSIS - THE SILENT AFFLICTION

Osteoporosis is the condition where bones become thinner and weaker over time.  The size and density of the bone is affected.  Osteoporosis to a lesser or greater degree happens to everyone as time gone on.  Starting in mid-life but accelerating greatly starting the sixth decade.  It is a silent affliction, in that generally there are no symptoms until a low-energy facture occurs.  In severe cases of osteoporosis, especially of the spine, a nonspecific aching pain can occur before fractures.  Osteoporosis accelerates rapidly in women after the age of menopause causing a loss of 15% of bone density in the first five years.  

FRAGILITY FRACTURES

A fragility fracture is a sentinel event caused by a low-energy ground-level injury after age 50.  Fragility fractures are always caused by osteoporosis.  Fragility fractures of the spine often occur without injury.  Other common fragility fractures are fractures of the hip, the shoulder, and the wrist.  Fragility fractures are the most prevalent and the most expensive health problem for women over 50.  Fragility fractures can cause great pain, deformity, disability, and even death.  A patient with a hip fracture has a tenfold increased risk of having a second fragility fracture of any kind.  A patient who has one vertebral compression fracture has five times increased probability of having a second one and a five times increased chance of having a hip fracture.  Fragility fractures pose a lifetime risk of death equal to breast cancer. 

OSTEOPOROSIS AND FRAGILITY FRACTURES 

Osteoporosis is also a strong indicator of overall poor health.  Patients with osteoporosis have a five times greater chance of having coronary artery disease  than those without osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is highly correlated with arterial calcification which occurs when calcium is deposited in the walls of the blood vessels which supply blood to the heart, brain, and extremities.  A fragility fracture is usually the first clue that you have osteoporosis.  Fragility fractures are three times more common than strokes or heart attacks and ten times more common than breast cancer as one-half of women and one-quarter of men over age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.  Approximately 20% of patients with hip fractures due to osteoporosis will require long-term nursing or home care.  Only 40% of patients with hip fractures regain their pre-fracture level of independence.  

BONES ARE ALIVE

Children and teenagers form bone size and strength rapidly.  From ages 14 to 18 are when the greatest amount of bone is formed in your skeleton.  Usually, this peak bone mass is maintained during adulthood through mid-life.  For most women bone loss increases rapidly after menopause when estrogen levels drop sharply.  Obviously, the more bone you have at the time of peak bone mass the better you will be protected against osteoporosis later in lie.  Peak bone mass in the young can be maximized through good nutrition and especially impact and resistance exercise.  

RISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS 

• 80% women over men.
• Menopause, especially at an early age.
• Inactive lifestyle.
• Tobacco and nicotine use.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Use of corticosteroids.
• Use of proton pump inhibitors, for example Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid.
• Cancer fighting drugs.
• Blood thinners (warfarin, Coumadin, Eliqius to name a few).

EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS

It is possible to have strong bones for the rest of your life.  Proper treatments for your bones will also boost your immune system which reduces the chances of colds, flu, strokes, heart disease, and even cancer!  Treatment for your bones also keep calcium out of your arteries and heart valves reducing the chance of blocked arteries in your heart and legs.  While you are improving  your bones, you will also be preventing strokes and improving your balance and overall physical performance.  What this means is that as you take steps to improve your bone health, you are also greatly enhancing your overall wellness and longevity.  

INTRODUCING THE OAKLAND ORTHOPEDIC BONE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

You can now start to improve your bone health while greatly enhancing your overall wellness and longevity.  We would like to work with you toward that goal.  There are many important steps you can take.  Our program includes:  

• A basic laboratory evaluation.  
• A newly upgraded bone density evaluation (this upgraded bone density evaluation is only available at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland.  Almost all other bone density testing is not complete).
• Lifestyle counseling regarding physical activity, exercise, nutrition, and smoking cessation.  
• Supplementation with calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin K2.
• Proper prescription medicines if necessary.
• We will work with your primary care physician on your treatment.

YOUR HEALTH IS IMPORTANT TO US AND WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOU PREVENT FRACTURES WHILE GREATLY IMPROVING YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.  PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE AT (248)334-0524 FOR A CONSULTATION.  

TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE: 

1. Medium to high impact walking or jogging. 
2. Resistance training with weights and machines.  
3. Total absence of sedentary lifestyle.

GOOD NUTRITION:  

1. Cutting down and almost eliminating refined carbohydrates - Stay away from pasta, rice, bread, and anything made from wheat flour.  Better choices are sweet potatoes, quinoa, millet, squashes, peas and lentils.  
2. Minimizing all sweets (this includes all pies, cakes, pastries, cookies, donuts, candy, soft drinks, et cetera.  
3. Eliminate all processed foods.  Replace these with fresh, organic vegetables, fruits, and wild caught fish.  
4. Focus on high fiber fruits, vegetables, and seeds.  Good choices are artichokes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, spinach, walnuts, almonds, pears, and apples.

ABSOLUTE TOBACCO AND NICOTINE CESSATION.  

AVOID STEROIDS AND PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR MEDICATIONS.

MINIMAL ALCOHOL USE.  

SUPPLEMENTS: 

1. Calcium 500-600 twice per day.  Calcium citrate is best.
2. Magnesium 300-400 mg daily. 
3. Vitamin D3 3000-5000 units daily.  (Must have a blood test for vitamin D3.  Increase the dose as needed to achieve a level of 50 to 80.  Vitamin D level should be monitored every 6-12 months).  
4. Vitamin C 1000 units, 2-4 times daily.
5. Vitamin K2 (with MK-4 and MK-7) 1000 mcg per day.
6. Trace minerals - zinc, copper, boron, manganeses, and silicon.

VITAMIN D - THE SUNSHINE HORMONE

The single most important supplement.

• Best known to improve calcium absorption and deposition into bone and to regulate blood levels of calcium.  
• Clearly the most powerful booster or your immune system, not only preventing the common cold and flu, but also a markedly positive effect on preventing cancer. 
• Increases muscle function and strength. 
• Has been shown to reduce fall risk and improve balance, especially in older patients.  
• Improves cognitive development and function thus combating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.  
• Helps improve patients with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
• Reduces macular degeneration. 
• Improves cardiovascular function helping to prevent the inflammation leading to blocked arteries.
• Improves diabetic neuropathy.  
• Helps control high blood pressure.  
• Has been associated with overall decreased incidence of heart disease, strokes, and hypertension.  
• Finally, and perhaps the most important, studies clearly indicate that patients with optimal vitamin D have much less chance of cancer of the breast, prostate, or colon.  

VITAMIN C - THE GREAT HEALER

• Promotes healthy skin and collagen formation everywhere in your body.  It is especially known to improve the strength and healing of tendons, ligaments, and even the bone matrix.  It greatly ehances the healing of all wounds.  
• Rights free radical damage.  Vitamin C is one of the many antioxidants that can protect against  damage caused by harmful free radicals, such as toxic chemicals and pollutants.  
• It counteracts the damage of oxidative stress from smoking. 
• Lowers the risks of strokes by strengthening blood vessel walls.
• Improves mineral absorptin.
• Helps your body reduce inflammation. 
• Lowers the risk of gout, a painful form of arthritis.  
• It improves your immune system and diminishes the incidence of colds and flu.  
• Helps cancer treatment.  High-dose vitamin C can enhance the cancer-fighting effects of drugs and even be a form of chemotherapy in and of itself.  
• Improves physical performance by improving tendon and muscle integrity and strength.

VITAMIN K  - KEEPS CALCIUM WHERE IT SHOULD BE

• Vitamin K is an essential cofactor for keeping calcium in bone.  
• Reduces the activity of bone resorption cells.  
• Huge benefit in preventing calcification in arteries and heart valves. 
• Strongly correlated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing arterial stiffness.  May even reduce previously accumulated arterial calcification.  

YOUR BONE HEALTH IS IMPORTANT...