Osteoporosis

PREVENTING OSTEOPOROSIS / LOW BONE MASS
At Washington Township Medication Foundation, we provide care for patients experiencing disorders that fall under the category of endocrinology or hormone imbalances. Osteoporosis is a common medical condition that causes weakness and brittleness in the bones. This condition occurs when the body under-produces bone or loses too much bone—or a combination of both factors. Osteoporosis is typically caused by hormonal changes that occur with age and / or deficiencies of calcium or vitamin D.

Learn more about this diagnosing and treating this condition on the page below:

• Tests & Treatments

Patient Education: What You Should Know About Osteoporosis

Approximately 54 million adults in America are currently living with osteoporosis / low bone mass. Some studies have shown that 50% of women and 25% of men aged 50 and older will experience a bone broken because of osteoporosis. Breaking a bone can be a very serious matter for an elderly patient, leading to loss of mobility and other resulting effects, including psychological damage caused by isolation and inactivity. Osteoporosis can also affect a patient in other ways, as well, such as causing loss of height and chronic pain.

Bones are more likely to break if they become weak and lose density. The word “osteoporosis” literally means “porous bone.” If you were to look at a human bone under a microscope, you would see that it looks similar to a honeycomb. However, bones affected by osteoporosis have much larger “spaces” than healthy bones. Ask your doctor at Washington Township Medication Foundation about tips for preventing osteoporosis. If you suspect that you may have osteoporosis, ask about scheduling a bone mineral density (BMD) test.

Some important tips for preventing osteoporosis include:

• Maintain a calcium and vitamin D-rich diet
• Commit to a regular exercise regime that includes weight-bearing exercise
• Avoid smoking
• Limit alcohol consumption