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Bone density disorders are focus of
Wellness Wednesday
The MUSC Wellness Wednesday program will
focus on bone density problems and how to avoid them in the Children’s
Hospital lobby from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 17. The session will offer
information pertaining to exercise and the prevention and management of
osteoporosis and osteopenia. Annie Lovering and Annie Cruzan are
hosting the topic.
The American Council on Exercise states that osteoporosis is “a
systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and
deterioration of bone strength, leading to bone fragility and an
increased risk of fracture.” With osteoporosis, the bones actually
become porous or thin, also called a brittle bone disease. Osteopenia
describes low bone density and can develop into osteoporosis if bone
density increases.
The entire skeletal system is affected although the hip, spine and
wrist account for a majority of the fracture sites. More than 500,000
are vertebral, 300,000 hip, 200,000 wrist and still another 300,000
other bones are fractured each year. Seventy percent of hip fractures
are related to osteoporosis. Twenty percent of those with hip fractures
die and 50 percent of those surviving result in disabilities.
Approximately 10 million Americans are estimated to have osteoporosis,
2 million of which are men and the other 8 million women. Another 34
million Americans are also thought to be at increased risk for the
disease. Greater risk female groups are of Caucasian, Hispanic or Asian
descent, have fair complexion with a small body frame, and have a
family history of osteoporosis. Other uncontrolled risk factors are
age, early onset menopause (lack of estrogen), and other chronic
diseases.
The good news is there are some risk factors you can control by
managing your lifestyle. They include:
- Taking recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D;
- Avoiding excessive alcohol;
- Having a bone density test and taking medications if
recommended; and
- Doing regular weight-bearing exercising.
Osteopenia and osteoporosis can be detected by a bone density test. A
survey of women age 45 to 75 showed three out of four of them had never
talked to their doctor about osteoporosis. Anyone feeling at risk for
osteopenia or osteoporosis should take action and talk to a doctor.
Once a diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan to manage osteopenia
or osteoporosis would include, among other things, exercise. Aerobic
and strength training activities that are both safe and effective
should be considered. Aerobic exercise that is weight-bearing and low
impact (as in walking, climbing stairs or dancing) can be performed
most days of the week. Resistance activities such as weight training
should also be done twice or three days per week.
For more specifics on these recommendations, talk with your health care
provider, stop by on Wellness Wednesday May 17, or contact Annie Cruzan
at the Harper Student Center. Hand outs on the do’s and don’ts of
exercising with osteoporosis and osteopenia will be provided. Be sure
to clear exercise programs with a physician first.
Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of
Health First. Striving to bring various topics and representing
numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this
weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA, and UMA employees with
current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Catalyst Online is published weekly,
updated
as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public
Relations
for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of
South
Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at
792-4107
or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to
Catalyst
Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to
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