While
you are currently at low risk, most likely due to youth and genetic
factors, it is very likely if not inevitable that you will lose bone
density as you age increasing your risk for pain, suffering and disfunction
that arise with bone loss. 50% of all young people (men and women)
who have a DEXA test will have below average bone density compared
to other young people, and 7.5 % one SD below average compared to
other young adults ) will already be osteopenic or have thinning bones.
Even though you are at low risk based on this screen it is impossible
to accurately access ones bone mineral density with any written screen.
One needs a DEXA bone density to best access ones current bone status
and osteoporosis risk.
FACTS AND STATISTICS
Early
bone loss is often silent
Bone loss is inevitable
Aesthetic loss and decreased performance occur at younger ages than
fractures.
All men and women are at risk.
Early bone
loss is often silent.
Many aches and pains, back pains attributed
to over use or strain could be early warning signs of bone loss in
young adults. Since individuals old or young have no reference for
what some one else feels, or what normal discomfort is for a given
amount of exercise we all tend to over look these early warning signs
of bone loss.
Bone loss is inevitable
If you live to be 70 statistically most
will have significant bone loss. All one needs to do is to think of
any 70 year old, even the most active one, and they will notice that
they do not look or preform as well as an average young adult. However,
by minimizing bone loss many people who are young today, will be better
able to maintain that same level of performance they had when they
were young at age 70.
Aesthetic loss and decreased performance
occur at younger ages than fractures.
Other reasons to find out your current
bone density include early prevention of pain, lost function, and
the aesthetic losses bone loss produces. While many doctors do not
mention them these are often more important to individuals than the
extreme consequence of fracture. Fractures usually occur in old age,
but pain and lost performance can occur now. Loss of teeth which sit
in bone, the slow progression of curvature in the spine, and lost
height are other issues many would prefer to avoid.
All men and women are at risk.
While this screen reassures you that
you have no noticeable extra risks for bone loss, we all have the
basic risks and therefore are at risk. Our suggestion is to discuss
bone loss with your doctor or a osteoporosis specialist and establish
a prevention plan to prevent bone loss.
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
While
we can not give you a plan, a DEXA bone density test is essential
for determining your bone density now. If it is higher than average
you will sleep better and may decide with your doctor to defer further
tests for several years. If on the other hand your bone density is
less than average which occurs in 50 % of the people , then your compliance
with a prevention plan will be heightened knowing that your bone density
is already less than average, that you are much more likely to age,
have increased aches and pains, and have a lower function, than others
of your age. The DEXA is the basis for the plan.
Why haven't I heard of this before?
Some doctors say that the test will
not change my treatment and all should "JUST" take calcium anyway
so The DEXA is not needed. However the frequency of future tests is
a variable that would change based on the results of the initial DEXA
as would the work up for the causes of bone loss and the medications
prescribed including the dose of calcium offered if the bone density
is low. Many specialists would check other blood tests and review
the diet and behavior much more closely if the bone density were low.
While many osteoporosis medications are not FDA approved for treating
young adults some may choose to take it under supervision of their
doctor if their bone density were low and they had pain. A chance
they will not be offered without a DEXA bone density test.
OUR SUGGESTIONS
Our suggestion is to take this screen
and the knowledge we provided and discuss it with your doctor and
ask him to clarify where our common sense approach to the process
is lacking. Why not get started preventing an otherwise inevitable
process today?
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