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National
Women’s Check-Up Day
In celebration of National
Women’s Health Week, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the WHCoE invite you to an OPEN HOUSE on Monday, May 12th,
6th
Annual Excellence Triathlon
Mark
your calendars for this sell-out race, scheduled for
The
race wouldn’t happen without support from dedicated volunteers! If you would
like to volunteer, contact
Car
Wash To Raise Money for Excellence Triathlon
The
Teen Advisory Board of the WHCoE has scheduled a car
wash to help raise money for the Excellence Triathlon. Stop by Sam’s Club on
July Breastfeeding
Classes
Join a Certified Lactation
Consultant for breastfeeding classes and get your questions answered. Classes
are scheduled for Tuesdays in July (1, 8, 15, 22),
* Remember:
The PPII lactation room is open
9th Annual Graylyn Conference on Women’s
Health: Women’s Cognitive Health
The Women’s Health Center of
Excellence will host the 9th Annual Graylyn
Conference on Women’s Health at the
Women’s
Health Research Seminar Series
May 6 – Smokeless Tobacco as a Risk Factor for Osteoporosis Among Older Women
In the South, presented by Sara Quandt, Ph.D.,
Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, WFUBMC. The seminar will be held at
Feature
Article
May is National Osteoporosis Prevention Month.
Turn over to learn more about this disease.
Osteoporosis: The Silent Disease
Osteoporosis is
the thinning and weakening of bones to the point where they break easily. More
than 8 million American women have osteoporosis, while eighteen million more
have lost enough bone to be at an increased risk to develop the disease.
Osteoporosis can happen at any age, although risk increases with age.
How to protect yourself from osteoporosis
By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98% of her skeletal mass. Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis. The following steps can help prevent osteoporosis:
1. A
balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Eat low-fat dairy foods, canned fish
with edible bones, dark-green, leafy vegetables, calcium-fortified orange juice,
breads, eggs, fatty fish, like salmon, tuna or sardines and, vitamin D
fortified milk.
2. Exercise. Do weight-bearing and balance exercises like walking, jogging, and climbing stairs to build bone mass and improve balance.
3. Other Lifestyle Prevention Steps. Avoid smoking. It causes the body to produce less estrogen, which protects the bones. Limit alcohol intake, as too much can damage bones.
Bone Density Testing and Medication. Some medicines can cause loss of bone mass. Talk to your doctor about protecting your bones if you use medications for arthritis, asthma, or for an overactive thyroid. Certain anti-seizure drugs, sleeping pills, hormones to treat endometriosis, and cancer drugs can also affect your bones.
Reducing Your
Risk
Osteoporosis is
the cause of 1.5 million fractures each year.
Some things you can do to prevent falls include:
ü
Wear rubber-soled and low-heeled shoes
ü
Use glasses or a hearing aid if needed
ü
Use a cane or walker if walking is unsteady
ü
Ask your doctor about side effects from
prescription medications
ü
Keep rooms well lit and the floor free of
clutter and use nightlights
ü
Make sure all the rugs and carpeting are firmly
attached to the floor
Diagnosing
Osteoporosis
The following risk factors have been identified:
§
An
inactive lifestyle
§
Current
low bone mass
§
Prolonged use of some medications
§
Diet low in dairy products or other sources of
calcium and vitamin D
§ Family history of osteoporosis or personal history of fracture after age 50
§ Estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause, or abnormal absence of menstruation
§
Current
cigarette smoking or excessive use of alcohol, and high salt, protein,
and caffeine intake
§ Ethnic heritage: White and Asian women are at higher risk than African-American and Hispanic women
Risk factors may
not tell the whole story. It's best to discuss specific situations with a
doctor.
How Do I Know
If I Am Losing Bone?
Losing height or
having a bone break easily is often the first sign of osteoporosis. A bone density test can:
·
Detect
osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
·
Predict
chances of future fractures
·
Determine
the rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment
Information
for this article was provided by the National Women’s
To learn more about osteoporosis and
other health issues that affect women and what you can do to prevent them,
visit the Women’s