22 - Friday, December 10, 1993 ~

North Shore News

Jiagnosis part of problem

in treatment of osteoporosis

‘Not commonly known, but disease also affects men

“YOU GOTTA be kidding!
“1. didn’t think. guys got
-.@steoporosis!’’ _ exclaimed

~Dan’s friend Mike,. holding :

: up ‘the bar (but drinking
‘mineral water) at their high
*. , School's 50th reunion... .

‘By Donnaleen Saut

ae Writer

‘ -itHiey, say it a little: jouder, 1
‘don’t think they, heard you down
the hall.” :

‘Sorry, Dan...You just’ sur-

: prised me, that’s all.”

It’s true.

Osteoporosis, a condition which
gradually erodes the mineral con-
tent of the skeleton, resulting in
brittle, porous bones that break
easily,tends to be associated with
women. ‘

The ‘condition does occur. most
‘frequently —in - postmenopausal
“Caucasian women over the. age of
“60, but men are also at risk.,

;,-iFor-example,” the chance of.a.
Caucasian - “woman ° getting achip—

fracture, ‘at some point in her life-
ime. is approximately - 15%: a

Caucasian” man has’ a seven ‘er.’

ent chance, :*,
And; of. those who do ‘break: la
hip, ; 12% to 20% will, die within. a

ependentiy again.»
“So, : while» osteoporosis. in ‘men
oesn't. Bet. nearly ithe :press: that
‘in. women. gets, . it’s

defi mitely, worth taking seriously, :
to Dre, Gilbert Ss.
aTecent |

i nstnewepaisal women, is:

‘part -
seis difficult problem ;

renee agnosis is often

isdiagnosis when ‘the condition . 2
, ‘yomyeloma,:

osteogenesis, ”im-
“metastatic ” carcinoma,

or another condition characterized.

by acray ‘adiolucency and, frac-
ure,’

But where osteoporosis has been. :
jagnosed correctly, it often oc-.
‘curs: asa consequence of im-.~

« mobilization (past or present), : a

onsequence ‘of. chemotherapy, or:

‘hyperthyroidism, or’

iver disease, says Dr. Gordan:
Senile osteoporosis, often seen
in’ elderly ;.men, “requires multi-
‘faceted: therapy: including
». physiotherapy, diet,

“pys ne .,
“Calcitonin, a hormone that in-

‘intake of

article.

‘yun ‘or jog, :
“discovered that' you can derive as’.
-much. benefit.‘from walking: as.

lifestyle - ad-’.
Ustments and perhaps drug thera-

hibits the breakdown of bone has
been used. It is important to note
that, although calcitonin may
reduce back pain from compres-
sion fracture, it has not yet been
proven to prevent fractures.
Another consideration. .; about
calcitonin therapy is that. it is

vidéos, or to become a member,
write to. OSTOP, Osteoporosis
Society of B.C.,. Suite 203-2182
West 12th Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
V6K 2N4.

Annual fees are $10, and that
gets you four good newsletters and

costly and inconvenient, requiring ” a‘chance:to help in the Society’ s

administration by injection.

The focus for maintaining
healthy bones for both men. and
women in later. life, apart. from |
medical support, is diet and exer
cise.

‘It is essential to pay particular
attention to a balanced, _ healthy
diet.

For. those over 75, it is likely”
that the body ° won't’ absorb
nutrients the way. it once did, and
‘a. multivitamin . is therefore
reconimended, to ensure proper
the vitamins .and
minerals for the. body ‘to absorb

and use calcium. :'

As. for. calcium, calciura car-

bonate is. the most

it is the safest, cheapest and most
calcium-dense.
It: is best absorbed on a. full

».stomach™ and . hence should . be

taken with meals. :
. The proper dosage*may’ “best be

_.. determined by, discussion : ‘with
“your physician: ".. :

The body: must also. get enough -

’ , Vitamin D ‘so that the’calcium can
“Halt of. the: survivors will: be A
etiously , impaired‘ i in their. ability.

be . properly "-utilized. The. best
source of this is sunshine.

A maximum of '15' minutes of.
daily exposure ‘to sun, without.a

-, sun .screen'.does the trick. Many
“multivitamins also ‘contain vitamin .

D in the appropriate amounts.
Men® also. need. to: make “sure-

‘that they. get adequate - weight-."

‘bearing’: exercise - for their spine,
and hips.

.« Running, walking and tennis are
"reat. an

For. those. who’ can ‘no- longer
it: has: been happily ©

from either of these activities. ~.
Swimming ‘is ‘also popular and -.
can be beneficial, particularly for

frequently ~
tecommended :supplement because.

“important work of. spreading in-
‘formation about osteoporosis
throughout B.C.

the - upper - body, -but - is not a of

weight-bearing exercise, - -
_» However, to return to Dan and
Mike’s ‘conversation: at their high

“school reunion, Dan_ insists. that -
“the key

to: coping. with’

osteoporosis is attitude. . a
“Pve seen people get bent - out

of shape about a hangnail, while

others are blazing: with life while -
they’re -at . death’s door,’’’ says”
Dan. ‘Sure I’ve got osteoporosis’
~ and sometimes it gets to me, but
Pll say one thing — it’s made me
“pay attention to my body in a'way

I’ve never come.close to. before.

Watching my diet, exercising reg-

ularly —- it’s strange to say, but in
some ways I've never
healthier.” :

For further information, to en-:

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