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Fosamax July 22
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How To Prevent Osteoporosis
Jul 21, 2015 | Fox News
By Dr. Manny Alvarez
...Now that estrogen replacement therapy has gone out of favor, doctors are prescribing bisphosfinates such as Fosamax and Actonel instead; these medications help increase bone mass and reduce the incidence of spine, hip, and other fractures without the increased risk of breast cancer. The most common side effects of bisphosphonates are ...
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Jul 21, 2015 | Fox News
By Dr. Manny Alvarez
As a doctor, I receive questions every day varying from heart health to infertility. Today, I received a question from a woman who wanted to know how to prevent osteoporosis.
Dear Dr. Manny, I’m getting older, and I read online that osteoporosis is a concern among women my age. What can I do to prevent it?
...A doctor diagnoses the disease by doing a physical examination and perhaps a bone mineral density test, which you should have done every two or three years. This test is like an X-ray, and it can detect low bone density before a fracture occurs. It can predict chances of fracturing in the future by telling you how weak or strong the bone is. And it helps determine the rate of loss or monitors the effectiveness of treatment.
The treatment of osteoporosis involves good nutrition, a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements, and exercise. Even if somebody has osteoporosis, exercise is important. The only difference is that the exercises should be specifically designed for people with weak bones. People with osteoporosis should not perform any kind of strenuous, high-impact aerobics.
Now that estrogen replacement therapy has gone out of favor, doctors are prescribing bisphosfinates such as Fosamax and Actonel instead; these medications help increase bone mass and reduce the incidence of spine, hip, and other fractures without the increased risk of breast cancer. The most common side effects of bisphosphonates are stomach upsets, and recent reports seem to link them to osteonecrosis of the jaw, in which the bone does not heal after dental work. So now dentists are very careful not to do major dental work in people who are taking these drugs.
Another type of drug being prescribed for osteoporosis is raloxifene, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator. Raloxifene is also being used for the treatment of breast cancer. Several calcium-related hormones have been tried for the treatment of osteoporosis, too. One is calcitonin, which is a natural-occurring hormone involved in calcium regulation and bone metabolism. Another one is teriparatide, an injectable form of human parathyroid hormone, which regulates calcium metabolism; it also has been approved for postmenopausal women and men.
One of the things to take into consideration with people who have significant osteoporosis is fall prevention to avoid hip and spine fracture. If an individual has osteoporosis and has difficulty moving around, specific changes need to be made in their surroundings. This can involve installing bed guards and railings, as well as minimizing the use of stairs...
For full story:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/07/21/how-to-prevent-osteoporosis/
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