Osteoporosis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Osteoporosis is a life-long disease that causes bones to become weak, brittle, and more likely to fracture (break). When your body reabsorbs (use up) more bone than it makes, osteoporosis occurs. Not having enough calcium or phosphorous, or having decreased amounts of estrogen in your body are causes of osteoporosis. Some illnesses, such as thyroid disease, may increase your osteoporosis risk.
  
  
• In the beginning, osteoporosis does not usually cause symptoms. Pain may be the only symptom and usually occurs when bones have collapsed or are broken. A bone density test is used to diagnose osteoporosis. Treatment goals are to prevent bone loss, increase bone density, and decrease the risk of spine and hip fractures. The success of treating osteoporosis is best when it is found and treated early.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Activity:

• Avoid falls:
  
  
  • Hold the railing when using stairs.
    
    
  • If you are unsteady on your feet, use a cane, a walker, or have someone help you walk.
    
    
  • Keep away from icy streets, sidewalks, and wet or waxed floors.
    
    
  • Keep the inside of your home well lit at night.
    
    
  • Remove things that could make you trip, such as loose rugs or electrical cords.
    
    
  • Wear low-heeled, soft-soled shoes.
  
  
• Avoid motions and activities that require straining: These activities may include lifting heavy objects. When picking things up, bend at the hips and knees. Never bend from the waist. Do not twist your back while lifting.
  
  
• Exercise regularly: Weight-bearing exercises such as jogging, walking, and stair climbing are good exercises for your body.

Diet:

• Avoid caffeinated drinks: Caffeine is in some coffees, teas, sodas, and chocolates.
  
  
• Eat food rich in calcium: Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese, broccoli, tofu, almonds, and canned salmon and sardines.
  
  
• Get enough vitamin D: Vitamin D is in fish oils, such as cod liver oil, some vegetables, and fortified milk, cereal, and bread. Vitamin D is also formed in the skin from being exposed to the sun. Try to get out in direct sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times a week.

Wellness hints:

• Do not drink alcohol: Some people should not drink alcohol. These people include those with certain medical conditions or who take medicine that interacts with alcohol. Alcohol includes beer, wine, and liquor. Tell your caregiver if you drink alcohol. Ask him to help you stop drinking.
  
  
• Keep a healthy weight: Talk to your caregiver about your weight to learn if you weigh too little or too much. If you are overweight, you should lose weight. Weight loss helps decrease stress on the joints in your back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.
  
  
• Do not smoke: Smoking causes lung cancer and other long-term lung diseases. It increases your risk of many cancer types. Smoking also increases your risk of blood vessel disease, heart attack, and vision disorders. Not smoking may help prevent such symptoms as headaches and dizziness for yourself and those around you. Smokers have shorter lifespans than nonsmokers.

For support and information?

Osteoporosis is a life-changing disease for you and your family. Accepting that you have osteoporosis may be hard. You may want to join a support group, which is a group of people who also have osteoporosis. Contact the following for more information:

• National Osteoporosis Foundation
  1150 17th Street NW, Suite 850
  Washington , DC 20036
  Phone: 1- 202 - 223-2226
  Phone: 1- 800 - 231-4222
  Web Address: http://www.nof.org
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have bone pain.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about osteoporosis, your medicine, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• After using medicine to treat osteoporosis, you have new or worsening heartburn or trouble swallowing.
  
  
• You have sudden, severe pain in your chest or back, or in your bones, muscles or joints.
  
  
• You have increasing pain after a fall.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Osteoporosis (Aftercare Instructions)