Posts Tagged ‘Fracture Risk’
May is National Osteoporosis Awareness Month
Half of all women over 50 will fracture a wrist, shoulder, vertebra, hip, or some other bone in their remaining lifetime. Increasing Fracture Risk is totally natural as a person ages. But there are actions we all can take to minimize our increased Fracture Risk. Most of these actions have nothing to do with taking another medication.
Awareness that simple actions can decrease Fracture Risk was the big theme at the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) annual meeting this past week. We can cut that risk a lot. Awareness that many fractures can be prevented is the first step.
Orthopods Are Dealing With Osteoporosis
This week I spent 2 days advising Orthopedic Surgeons about how to deal with Osteoporotic patients. Identifying the Osteoporotic (Fragility) Fracture is the easy part. Correcting the Osteoporosis is more challenging.
Orthopods are often too busy treating the recent fracture to do a complete work-up and initiate correction of the Osteoporosis. Unfortunately, many pimary care docs are also too busy treating (now out of control because of the fracture) diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, pulmonary problems, etc in the weeks after a fracture. Setting up a system is key to getting a complete bone health evaluation and treatment before everyone, patient included, forgets to try to prevent further fractures.
Support is Available
Osteoporosis is scary. Few persons are aware of their diagnosis until after a major fracture, such as a hip fracture. Osteoporosis is defined as an Increased Fracture Risk. You can Prevent Fractures if you know your diagnosis early and act to Avoid Fractures.
Most people need help motivating themselves in order to take action. Most people need help to continue to do the necessary actions for success. Joining others in a Support Group can help. Our Cedar Valley Osteoporosis Support Group will meet Tuesday 17 April from 6 to 7 PM. Caregivers often need support too. All are welcome.