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-:

quire about available books and

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