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osteoporosis ...
The risk of developing osteoporosis is
higher in women who:
- had their menopause before the age
of 45
- had a hysterectomy before the age
of 40
- have infrequent periods
- are thin, fair-haired and of small
stature
The risk is also high in both men and
women of developing osteoporosis who:
- take prednisolone or other
steroids
- have recently had a bone fracture
- have had chemotherapy
- have a close relative who had
osteoporosis
- have experienced loss of height
The osteoporosis diagnosis is confirmed by special
X-ray tests. Bone mineral density scans can pinpoint individuals who
have a high risk of developing the disease. If your are at risk, you
will be given priority for a scan.
There are several ways to check the
bone mineral density. One way is to use the DXA scan, also called DEXA
(dual energy X-ray absorptionetry). During the scan it will be necessary
to have an injection of a very small amount of radioactive material.
This will give a final picture of the state of the calcium in your bones
as well as predict the risk of future bone fractures.
An easy way of assessing the risk of
osteoporosis is to check your hair color. People who have premature
graying of the hair are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis. A New
Zealand study found that those who had grey hair before the age of 40
also had abnormal thinning of their bones.
At present, one of the most effective
treatments of osteoporosis is HRT. Because of concerns about its side
effects, however, particularly concerns about the risk of breast cancer,
scientists have developed newer drugs which target only specific organs.
One example is the group of drugs
called SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators). These attach to
the estrogens receptor on the cell membrane and block the binding of
excess estrogens on the receptor. Raloxifene is one of the first SERMs
to be developed. Raloxifene protects the bone tissue without increasing the
risk of breast cancer. The modulators able to balance the levels of
estrogen. If estrogen is too high, the SERMs block it. If it is too low
they boost it. Treatment with SERMs does not affect the symptoms of
menopause such as hot flushes, it only prevents osteoporosis (and
perhaps also heart attacks and stroke). More variants are in the
pipeline.
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Osteoporosis Calcium Supplements ...
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