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 Newsletter - Summer 2000
By Joel P. Tidd, B.S.R.T., Radiology The Roar of the Silent Disease Osteoporosis is
a disease in which bones become porous and fragile, which can
lead to fractures and disability. It's known as the "silent disease"
because often it is not evident until a bone is broken. In the
U.S., more than 1.5 million fractures per year are attributed
to osteoporosis, which represents over $14 billion in health care
costs annually. Among women over age 60, one in four experiences
a fracture as a result of osteoporosis.
As early as adolescence, individuals can use the following strategies for preventing osteoporosis later in life. Adolescents who follow these steps have the opportunity to develop maximum bone density:
Young adults also should follow the above steps in order to maintain stable bone mass, and individuals at high risk for osteoporosis should have a baseline densitometry. Menopausal women experience falling estrogen levels and may be at risk for Type I osteoporosis, which is bone loss high in the spine and in the end of the forearm. Women who have gone through menopause must be sure to maintain adequate calcium intake and add 400 units of Vitamin D per day (to help with absorption of calcium). Estrogen replacement therapy may be advised (consult a physician); other treatments may be advisable for women who cannot take estrogen. A baseline density evaluation should be made, and repeated every 2-3 years to monitor treatment. Adults over age 70 are at risk of Type II osteoporosis, due to poor calcium absorption and decreased Vitamin D production, leading to possible fractures of the hip, pelvis, and long bones. Homes should be "fall-proofed", adequate calcium intake should be maintained, and 800 units of Vitamin D should be added. Measurement of bone density, which can be accomplished with a bone densometer, is a key tool in diagnosing and treating osteoporosis. Joel Tidd heads Grace Cottage's Radiology Department. A seventh- generation Vermonter, he lives in Vernon with his wife and two teenage children. Joel is an avid gardener - he's got seven perennial gardens at home, and he's been pulling weeds in Grace Cottage's new garden. |
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