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Older Post
Older postmenopausal women
Those women who have lived over 80 years had have osteopenia are above average! If they are healthy and without fractures they don't need prescription medication for their bones. They should eat enough protein and calcium, take vitamin D, maintain a sturdy weight, get exercise, and not smoke. Women above age 65 should need prescription medications only if they have "osteoporosis" or if they have other medical complications placing them at high risk.
Women ages 60 to 64 should be screened if they also have at least one risk factor in addition to menopause. Risk factors include:
• Being white (Caucasian) or, to a lesser degree, Asian.
• A family history of osteoporosis.
• Being thin.
• Long-term use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone or hydrocortisone for inflammatory conditions, or anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or gabapentin (Neurontin) for pain or seizures.
• Eating disorders or diseases that affect the absorption of nutrients from food.
• Being inactive or bedridden for a long period.
• Smoking.
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or beverages containing caffeine.
• Having a diet low in calcium or vitamin D.
Many men don't think they are at risk for osteopenia or osteoporosis, since these are commonly considered to be conditions of older women. Because men have a higher peak bone mineral density than women at middle age, osteopenia and osteoporosis tend to happen at an older age in men. However, aside from the hormonal change in women as they go through menopause, the risk factors of osteopenia are risks for men as well as women.
Men are also at risk if they have low levels of the hormone testosterone.
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Why Are America’s Bones Shrinking
by Thomas G. Kotronis, Rph |
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