Osteoporosis, a condition which causes bones to become weak and susceptible to breaks, affects over 10 million Americans and contributes to an estimated 1.5 million bone fractures every year. The condition, which affects half of all women older than 65, and one in five men, was the topic of a seminar sponsored by the ONS Foundation 
for Clinical Research and Education on Tuesday night at ONS on Valley Drive. Orthopedic surgeon Steven Hindman, MD, Endocrinologist Judith Goldberg Berman, MD and Physical Therapist Betsy Kreuter, PT spoke before a group of 40 about bone anatomy, personal risk factors and the latest treatments for osteoporosis.
After defining osteoporosis, Dr. Goldberg-Berman’s talked about how the condition is diagnosed and the variety of ways it is treated. She said a bone density test is the best method currently available for diagnosing bone loss, however there are other indicators to consider, and in some cases, just the incidence of a spinal compression fracture is an indication of osteoporosis. Although she believes that each patient needs to be assessed individually, she said that ingesting sufficient levels of calcium and vitamin D are extremely important to maintain good bone health. Once a positive diagnosis has been made, treatment may vary from patient to patient depending on age, medical history and lifestyle considerations. “Bisphosphonates like Fosamax and Boniva have been in the press a lot recently. Some studies have shown there are associated risks, but in many cases there are other studies that dispute those findings,” says Goldberg-Berman. “For some women, estrogen is an effective bone builder even though there are risks that make it not a good option for others. Medication, diet and exercise should all be considered when treating this potentially serious condition.” Continue reading “Bone Health is focus of Osteoporosis Seminar”
