Explore
Jul 15, 2020 · The best treatment method for osteopenia will vary for each person. Depending on the severity of the condition, your age, sex, and lifestyle habits, our rheumatologist, Dr. Maria Farooq, will help you to create a treatment plan that suits you, supports strong bones, and minimizes your symptoms.
What type of doctor should I See for osteopenia?
A variety of medical specialists treat people with osteoporosis, including internists, gynecologists, family doctors, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, physiatrists, orthopaedists, and geriatricians. There are a number of ways to find a doctor who treats osteoporosis patients. If you have a primary care or family doctor, discuss your concerns with him or her.
What type of Doctor treats keratoconus?
Sep 14, 2021 · removal of ovaries before menopause. not getting enough exercise. a diet lacking calcium and vitamin D. smoking or using other forms of tobacco. drinking too much alcohol or caffeine. taking ...
What type of Doctor treats goiter?
Breast cancer treatment with aromatase inhibitors increase bone fracture risk. For women with osteopenia, though, it still makes more sense to wait until osteopenia has advanced to osteoporosis to begin taking these drugs. The exception would be a woman who is starting on an aromatase inhibitor and is already close to a –2.5 on her DEXA scan.
What type of Doctor treats prostrate problems?
Osteopenia is a loss of bone mineral density (BMD) that weakens bones. It’s more common in people older than 50, especially women. Osteopenia has no signs or symptoms, but a painless screening test can measure bone strength. Certain lifestyle changes can help you preserve bone density and prevent osteoporosis. Appointments 216.444.2606.
Should I see an endocrinologist for osteopenia?
If your doctor has diagnosed you with osteoporosis or you've had fragility fractures of the spine or hip, you may be referred to an endocrinologist to confirm the diagnosis. Testing will be completed to look for other medical conditions that lead to bone loss, determine its severity, and select the best treatment.
Should I see a rheumatologist for osteopenia?
If there is concern about the proper treatment of a patient with osteopenia, the patient can be referred to a physician who specializes in bone health. This is often a rheumatologist or an endocrinologist.
What type of doctor manages osteoporosis?
Rheumatologists treat patients with age-related bone diseases. They can diagnose and treat osteoporosis. Endocrinologists, who see patients with hormone-related issues, also manage the treatment of metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis. Orthopedic surgeons may fix fractures.
Who is the best doctor to treat osteoporosis?
Fortunately, an orthopedic doctor can help you take control of the condition and improve your quality of life. Orthopedic physicians are experts in conditions, injuries, and diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system, including conditions like osteoporosis.Dec 13, 2019
What is the safest treatment for osteopenia?
The main ones are calcium and vitamin D supplements. Most adults should get between 1,000 and 1,200 milligrams of calcium and 600 to 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D every day.Nov 23, 2020
Can osteopenia be cured?
There's no cure for osteopenia, but it's important to preserve bone density as much as possible. Treatment involves simple strategies to keep your bones as healthy and strong as possible and prevent progression to osteoporosis: Calcium treatment. Exercise.Sep 29, 2021
Do Rheumatologists treat osteoporosis?
Specialty consultations. For patients with difficult to treat osteoporosis, a consultation can be obtained with a physician who specialized in osteoporosis. This is often an endocrinologist or a rheumatologist.
What is the best and safest treatment for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates are usually the first choice for osteoporosis treatment. These include: Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill. Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill.
Do Rheumatologists treat osteoarthritis?
Rheumatologists – Rheumatologists specialize in musculoskeletal diseases and autoimmune conditions. They treat all types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.Nov 18, 2019
What is the best hospital for osteoporosis?
Brigham and Women's Hospital Osteoporosis Treatment Team Year after year, our Rheumatology and Orthopaedic Services are ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
What is the new drug for osteoporosis?
Romosozumab (Evenity). This is the newest bone-building medication to treat osteoporosis. It is given as an injection every month at your doctor's office and is limited to one year of treatment.Aug 21, 2021
Why do endocrinologists treat osteoporosis?
Since osteoporosis can develop without any obvious symptoms, it is up to endocrinologists to spot often overlooked signs of bone loss and conduct research to improve understanding of osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
What does osteopenia mean?
Osteopenia means low bone density, but what exactly does this mean? It's easiest to understand osteopenia when we compare it to both normal bone density and osteoporosis (very low bone density).
What is the bone density test for osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones have become brittle and are more likely to break, even with mild injuries. A bone density test with osteoporosis gives a T-score of -2.5 or worse.
How does bisphosphonate work?
Bisphosphonates are medications which work by slowing the rate of bone loss, thereby improving bone density. Most of these reduce the risk of spine fractures, but not all have been shown to reduce the risk of hip fractures. 6 Some of these medications are taken orally while others are given by injection. Actonel, specifically, has been approved for the prevention of osteoporosis. Zometa has now been approved to use along with an aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer. 7
Does tamoxifen help with breast cancer?
Tamoxifen may also be used to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. 10 . Like estrogen (as in hormone replacement therapy) their action on bone increases bone mineral density and reduces the risk of vertebral (spinal) fractures.
What is the T score for osteoporosis?
A bone density test with osteoporosis gives a T-score of -2.5 or worse. Having a bone density that is 2.5 deviations below the average means that your bone density is in the bottom 2% of someone your age. 1 . Osteopenia lies between these numbers, with a T-score of better than -2.5 but worse than -1.0.
Is calcitonin a man made hormone?
Calcitonin is a man-made version of a hormone in our bodies that regulates bone metabolism and helps change the rate at which the body reabsorbs bone. It is available both as a nasal spray and by injection and can reduce the risk of spine fractures. Miacalcin nasal spray, in particular, may be an option for postmenopausal women who can't tolerate the side effects of other medications. 18
What is Forteo used for?
Forteo (teriparatide) is a man-made version of the body's natural parathyroid hormone and is usually used only for people with severe osteoporosis who are at a high risk of fractures. It is the only medication which can actually stimulate the body to grow new bone.
How old was Isabel Johnson when she got osteoporosis?
Isabel Johnson, age 64 years old, picked up a brochure on osteoporosis at her local pharmacy. What she read about the ”silent disease” concerned her. She learned that she had a few risk factors: she had gone through menopause at an early age, and her mother had suffered several fractures in her seventies and eighties.
Is there a specialty for osteoporosis?
There is no physician specialty dedicated solely to osteoporosis, nor is there a board certification program for physicians who treat the disease. A variety of medical specialists treat people with osteoporosis, including internists, gynecologists, family doctors, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, physiatrists, orthopaedists, and geriatricians.
What are the causes of osteopenia?
In both men and women, the following factors can all contribute to osteopenia: Eating disorders or metabolism problems that do not allow the body to take in and use enough vitamins and minerals. Chemotherapy, or medications such as steroids used to treat a variety of conditions, including asthma. Exposure to radiation.
What age should I get screened for osteoporosis?
Screening for osteoporosis is recommended for women age 65 or older. Women ages 60 to 64 should be screened if they also have at least one risk factor in addition to menopause. Risk factors include: Being Caucasian or, to a lesser degree, Asian. A family history of osteoporosis. Being thin.
How to treat a swollen thigh?
What Therapies Does Dr. Weil Recommend? 1 Get enough calcium. Choose high quality, organic dairy products such as yogurt and milk. Eat more sardines (with bones), dark green vegetables like collard greens, bok choy and broccoli, whole soy products like tofu, and calcium-fortified soy milk and orange juice. Consider taking a calcium supplement if you are not eating at least three servings of dairy per day and/or calcium-fortified foods, if you are postmenopausal or if you have a family history of osteoporosis. 2 Get enough vitamin D. Dr. Weil recommends supplementing with 2,000 IU daily for adults. 3 Decrease your sodium intake. Avoid salty processed foods and fast food. Don’t salt your food before tasting it. 4 Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. Potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and beta carotene (found in fruits and vegetables) have been associated with higher total bone mass. A diet rich in vegetables and fruit and moderate in animal protein and grains may minimize the acid-ash residue of the diet. 5 Limit caffeine intake. 6 Avoid alcohol or drink only in moderation. 7 Increase weight-bearing activities, such as walking, weight training and calisthenics. Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. 8 Eat magnesium-rich foods every day. These include spinach, tofu, almonds, broccoli and lentils. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are also good sources of magnesium. 9 Eat vitamin K-rich foods every day. The best sources are green leafy vegetables (see the calcium-rich greens listed above), but most vegetables are good sources.
Why is exercise important for bones?
Exercise is also important in maintaining strong bones, because bone forms and remodels in response to physical stress.
What does it mean when your bones are weak?
Bone mineral density is an indication of the level of minerals in the bones, which shows their strength and density. Having osteopenia means there is a greater chance of developing osteoporosis, a condition where bones are weak and fractures can occur.
How to reduce bone loss?
In addition to diet and exercise, quitting smoking and avoiding excessive use of alcohol, caffeine and sodas will also lessen your risk of bone loss. There are medications available to treat bone thinning, but these are more commonly used if you have osteoporosis.
When do you lose bone mass?
All people begin losing bone mass after they reach peak BMD at about 30 years of age. The thicker your bones are by about age 30, the longer it takes to develop osteopenia or osteoporosis. Some people who have osteopenia may not have had significant bone loss; they may just naturally have a lower bone density.
How to prevent osteopenia?
If you already smoke or drink a lot of alcohol or caffeine, stop — especially if you’re younger than age 35, when you can still build bone.
What is the BMD of osteopenia?
Your bone density peaks when you’re about 35 years old. Bone mineral density (BMD) is the measurement of how much bone mineral is in your bones. Your BMD estimates the chances of breaking a bone from a normal activity.
Why do women lose bone mass after menopause?
After your bone mass peaks, your body breaks down old bone faster than it builds new bone. That means you lose some bone density. Women lose bone more quickly after menopause, due to lower estrogen levels.
Why do women lose bone?
Women lose bone more quickly after menopause, due to lower estrogen levels. If you lose too much, your bone mass may drop low enough to be considered osteopenia. About half of Americans older than age 50 get osteopenia. The more of these risk factors you have, the higher your risk is:
What is the most common way to measure BMD?
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, called DEXA or DXA, is the most common way to measure BMD. It’s also known as a bone mineral density test. It uses X-rays that have lower radiation than a typical X-ray. The test is painless.
What is the FRAX tool?
The FRAX tool uses your bone density and other risk factors to estimate your risk of breaking your hip, spine, forearm, or shoulder within the next 10 years. Your doctor may also use your FRAX score to help make decisions about treatment for osteopenia.
What foods have calcium and vitamin D?
To get calcium and vitamin D, eat nonfat and low-fat dairy products, such as cheese, milk, and yogurt. Some types of orange juice, breads, and cereals are fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Other foods with calcium include: dried beans. broccoli.
Why are women prescribed osteopenia medication?
So why are many women with osteopenia being prescribed medication? According to bone health expert Steve Cummings, MD, a former professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, it is “because doctors have come to believe that osteopenia is a problem, and no one is disseminating information about the benefits or risks or worthwhileness of taking treatment if you have osteopenia .”
How often do women lose bone density?
“A woman who has osteopenia is likely to lose maybe seven percent of her bone density every 10 years ,” explains bone health expert Bruce Ettinger, MD, a senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California.
What is the best medicine for breast cancer?
Many women with hormone-sensitive tumors are now taking an aromatase inhibitor as part of their breast cancer treatment. These drugs—anastrozole (brand name Arimidex), letrozole (brand name Femara), and exemestane (brand name Aromasin)—reduce estrogen by blocking the aromatase enzyme and keeping it from converting androgens into estrogen. ...
Does raloxifene reduce fracture risk?
But the research has shown that the drugs most commonly used to treat osteoporosis—bisphosphonates, such as alendronate (brand name Fosamax), and the drug raloxifene (brand name Evista)—do not significantly reduce fracture risk in women with osteopenia. Why?
Does bisphosphonate help with osteoporosis?
For women who have osteoporosis and are on aromatase inhibitors, bisphosphonates should help reduce fracture risk.
Can aromatase inhibitors cause bone fractures?
Breast cancer treatment with aromatase inhibitors increase bone fracture risk . For women with osteopenia, though, it still makes more sense to wait until osteopenia has advanced to osteoporosis to begin taking these drugs.
Can osteoporosis be treated with drugs?
It would be easy to assume that women with osteopenia should be prescribed these medications as well. But that isn’t the case. In fact, osteopenia does not need to be treated with any drugs at all.
What is the best medicine for osteopenia?
Medications that can treat osteopenia or prevent osteoporosis include: Bisphosphonates.
What supplements can help with osteopenia?
But many people try a number of nutritional supplements and herbs before they have a fracture to build stronger bones. The main ones are calcium and vitamin D supplements.
What supplements help strengthen bones?
Other nutritional supplements may help strengthen bones, but so far, there’s little research showing how well they work. These include: 1 Boron 2 Copper 3 Dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA) 4 Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) -- the two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish 5 Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 6 Manganese 7 Silicon 8 Strontium 9 Zinc
Why is hormone replacement therapy so popular?
Once a popular treatment to prevent bone loss, doctors rarely use it for that anymore because studies found that it made people more likely to get blood clots in their legs and lungs, along with other health problems.
How to keep your bones strong?
If you have strong bones, a healthy lifestyle can help keep them that way. If you already have osteopenia, those same lifestyle choices can lower the chances you’ll get osteoporosis. Make these practices part of your routine: Exercise. Like muscle, bone gets stronger when you use it.
What is the best treatment for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates. These meds slow your body’s natural process for breaking down bone. You may keep the level of bone you have or even get a small boost of bone density. Bisphosphonates are the main drugs doctors use to prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
How to reduce bone density?
Don’t smoke, and drink less. If you smoke, try to quit. Studies have shown a strong link between cigarette smoking and lower bone density. If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation. That means no more than one drink per day for women and two daily drinks for men.
How to increase bone density naturally?
7 ways to naturally increase bone density – osteopenia treatments from home. #1 Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise. Bone and muscle are a team, and they’re a use-or-lose proposition.
Is alkaline diet good for osteoporosis?
There’s recent research that shows just how important an alkaline diet is for those at risk for osteoporosis. #7 Stress less. Amazingly, stress is highly correlated with fracture risk and bone loss (and that’s above and beyond all the other health issues it causes).
Is vitamin K good for bone health?
There’s a great deal of new research that shows vitamin K is vital for bone health, and for cardiovascular health as well. Some recent studies have even shown that one form of vitamin K, MK-7, is more effective at building bone than using bone drugs. #5 And get to know all of the 20 key bone building nutrients.
Treatment
Diagnosis
Overview
Results
Side effects
Adverse effects
Mechanism of action
Risks
Medical uses
- Used most often by people with cancer, denosumab is a monoclonal antibody which prevents the formation of osteoclasts, cells which cause the breakdown of bone.
Prevention
Definition
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Risks
Treatment
Diet
Prevention