I Fractured My Hip Walking on The Treadmill
Osteoporosis Facts Especially For Women
Osteoporosis Facts
Around the world 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer a fractured bone by the age of 50 years. I actually did fracture my hip walking on the treadmill at 3 miles per hour, which is rather sad. Millions of people have osteoporosis, and 80% of them are women, but they don’t know it.
Women lose about ⅓ of their bone mineral density between the ages of 20 to 80. Bones break down and we cannot rebuild them fast enough. Men have this loss from 65 to 70 years of age.
In my case, osteoporosis started early in my life due to the corticosteroids I was continually given to treat systemic lupus erythematosus. The hip fracture is just one of the ten fractures I had in 2017, which is covered in the article below.
Facts About Women And Bone Loss
More women get osteoporosis because:
- Women tend to have thinner, smaller bones than men
- As women age, they produce less estrogen, which normally protects women from bone loss after menopause
- Over twenty percent of older women who are Caucasian are at a higher risk as many do not tolerate milk products, eat an unhealthy diet, or smoke
- Over fifty percent of women have low bone mass (the bones are weaker but there is no osteoporosis)
- 15% of women are lactose intolerant, so they are calcium deficient
Healthy Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis
Getting enough calcium and vitamin D is important. Be sure to get outside in the sun every day. It is also possible to take a calcium and vitamin D supplement if you know you are not getting them in your diet. Exercise, strength training and limiting alcohol are also helpful.
Bone Density
The way to know about the health of someone’s bones is to do a bone density study. This test result shows a Z-score and a T-score. The T-score is used to diagnose osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men that are aged 50 or more.
Medications for Osteoporosis
The first choice of medications for the treatment of osteoporosis is bisphosphonates. They include:
- Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill
- Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill
- Ibandronate (Boniva), a monthly pill or quarterly intravenous (IV) infusion
- Zoledronic acid (Reclast), an annual IV infusion
Some people cannot take bisphosphonates, like people with reduced kidney function. They can take denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva), which is an injection received every 6 months.
My bone density was so low that I gave myself Teriparatide (Forteo) injections every morning for 2 years. This medication is only given once in a lifetime. Men and women may be prescribed this medication for very low bone density.
My bones remarkably improved after this treatment, and I have not had any other broken bones.
Final Thoughts
When you have taken any cortisone over a long period of time bone density testing is imperative. It is important to treat bone density issues while you are younger when possible.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider individually. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
I appreciate each of you for reading this article. I hope you enjoyed it, and maybe you learned something new. If you liked my article become a member, and read all you want each month for $5. If you use my subscription link, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Copyright©2022 Pamela Oglesby Facebook, Hubpages, Twitter, Instagram Linkenin Become a Medium member today or Buy me a cup of coffee! ❤️