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Osteoporosis costs the government and NHS £1.7 billion annually,
equivalent to £5 million per day.
People
at increased risk from the disease include women who have had an early
menopause (before age 45) or with a history of anorexia, men and women
treated with long-term or high dose corticosteroids, and those who
have broken a bone after a minor bump or fall.
Are you at
risk?
Try this quiz to see whether you are one of the people at risk in the
UK.
Answer yes or no:
1: Are you over 65?
2: Have you taken corticosteroid tablets (which are prescribed
for conditions such as asthma) for more than three months?
3: Have you broken a bone after a minor bump or fall?
4: Have you undergone an early menopause (before the age of 45)?
5: Have you undergone an early hysterectomy, which included the
removal of both your ovaries, before the age of 45?
6: Has your mother broken a hip after a minor bump or fall?
7: Men only: Have you ever been diagnosed as having low
testosterone levels?
8: Do you regularly drink more alcohol than is recommended, ie
over four units a day for men or over three units a day for women?
9: Do you smoke?
10: Are you underweight for your height?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, then you are to some
extent, ‘at risk’
What to do now?
Just because you have a risk factor does not mean you are going to get
the disease; but it does mean that you may be more prone to developing
it. There are always changes you can make to the way you live your life
that will lessen your risk. Broken bones due to osteoporosis are not an
inevitable part of ageing and there are treatments that can help to
strengthen your skeleton.
If you feel you are at risk, your GP can arrange a bone density scan (DXA),
though the National Osteoporosis Society is concerned that waiting times
for a scan to diagnose osteoporosis are too long in many areas, which
could mean a delay in getting a treatment.
Healthy bones need nourishment
Other than cutting out smoking and not drinking to excess, what you eat
is one of the key factors in avoiding osteoporosis.
Aim for a well-balanced diet that includes a good variety of food,
including bread, potatoes, pasta and cereals; fruit and vegetables; milk
and dairy products; and meat, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts and seeds, to
ensure you get all the vitamins and minerals you need.
Calcium is particularly important to bones and helps to give them
strength and rigidity. Good sources of calcium are dairy products like
milk, yogurts and cheese.
Drugs to treat osteoporosis
Drugs to treat osteoporosis are the bisphosphonates alendronate (Fosamax),
eitidronate (Didronel PMO) and risedronate (Actonel), the selective
estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene (Evista) and teriparatide (Forsteo).
A once-monthly bisphosphonate treatment is being evaluated by the
American FDA. Discuss any of these drugs with your GP or practice nurse
before taking them, as they do have side effects.
Supplements for bones
Mineral supplements with vitamins for healthy bones may be prescribed by
a GP: calcium carbonate with vitamin D is the most common combination.
These can also be bought over the counter.
Or you could try a branded product. BioCalth contains Calcium L-threonate,
described by its makers as ‘a vitamin C metabolite that works as a
biocarrier for calcium, ensuring a 95% absorption rate direct to the
bone’. A single trial of 79 women comparing calcium carbonate and
BioCalth, showed better results on the latter.
BioCalth is available from supermarkets, the
NutriCentre, pharmacies and
healthfood stores, priced at £14.99 for a month’s supply (90 tablets or
60 sachets).
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