Greta Leonard RN, CDT

Are you at risk for Osteoporosis?

To help prevent osteoporosis or live with it safely, you need to know what factors put you at risk. Do you have any of the following?

• Your gender. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.

• Do you have a thin, small-boned skeleton

• Your age. The longer you live, the greater the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.

• Heredity. Do you have any older relatives who have broken a bone?
Or have you broken a bone as an adult?

• Race and Ethnicity. Osteoporosis affects all races and ethnicities, but Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic people are at higher risk.

• For women who have gone through menopause, you are at a higher risk.

• Lifestyle choices can also put you at risk. Do you smoke? Do you drink excessive amounts of alcohol? Does your diet contain too much caffeine? Are you physically active? Are you getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet and supplements?

Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors. Your healthcare provider will help you to make the best choices in protecting your bones.

More information to follow…

Greta is the coordinator for the Idaho Osteoporosis Center, affiliated with Saltzer Medical Group.
Located at Mercy North Health Center, 4400 E Flamingo Ave, Nampa, ID 83687
Hours Mon-Fri 8:30-4:00

Your Monthly Guide to Bone Health by Greta Leonard RN, CDT

Keeping your bones healthy is a lifetime commitment.  It starts as a child.  Children’s bones grow quickly and reach their full length during the teenage years.  During this time of rapid growth, you can build strong bones by getting exercise and eating calcium-rich foods.

As a young adult, your bones thicken.  They reach their peak bone mass between the ages of 25 and 35.  Bones are strongest when at their peak bone mass.  You can help maximize your peak bone mass by being physically active and getting enough calcium and vitamin D.

After age 35 years of age, bone mass slowly declines.  Gradually, your body starts to lose more bone than it makes.  To help minimize bone loss, be sure to exercise and get adequate calcium and vitamin D.

Women at menopause age (when your monthly periods end), will experience a drop in estrogen.  As a result, you lose bone much faster during the early postmenopausal years.  Although exercise, calcium, and vitamin D are important, they can’t totally stop bone loss during menopause.  As a result, your bones may become thinner and weaker. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to prevent bone loss.

Later in life, your body may still be losing bone faster than it can be replaced.  Once too much bone is lost, you may develop osteoporosis and be at risk for a fracture.  Although exercise, calcium, and vitamin D are important, they can’t totally stop bone loss.  Again this is the time to talk to your doctor.

How much Calcium and Vitamin D do you need?

What risk factors should you be aware of?

More information to follow.

Greta is the coordinator for the Idaho Osteoporosis Center, affiliated with Saltzer Medical Group.
Located at Mercy North
Hours Mon-Fri 8:30-4:00 (MST)
To schedule a Bone Mineral Density test (BMD) call (208) 288-4930