March is Women’s History Month – Make Sure You are Able to Make History by Knowing about Osteoporosis and Reducing your Risk

You can’t be a part of history if you aren’t here, so knowing your risks of developing osteoporosis and learning how to identify warning signs is very important. Most 20 to 30-year-old women aren’t concerned about their bone density levels. Instead, they believe osteoporosis is a disease that only affects women who have discovered a few gray hairs and reached menopause. However, the National Osteoporosis Foundation found that 40 percent of post-menopausal women have alarmingly low bone density levels.

While the risk of osteoporosis increases with age and is accelerated when a woman’s estrogen level drops, doctors have discovered a predecessor to the disease. The predecessor is osteopenia, which is commonly referred to as low bone density. Osteopenia affects 25 percent of women ages 21 to 50. While young women experience a decreased rate in the regeneration of their bones at age 30, they also experience an increased risk of osteoporosis by developing osteopenia.

“The majority of bone mass begins to build during childhood and continues to increase throughout a woman’s twenties,” said Nayan R. Patel, M.D., a Texas Back Institute physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. “Studies have found that women who are diagnosed with low bone density levels rarely take proactive steps to do anything about it.”

Once a woman is diagnosed with this disease, she must act quickly in order to reduce her risks of experiencing bone fractures. Various types of bone fractures can eventually lead to intense pain, surgery or even death. In addition to suffering from bone fractures, women can also become more prone to lead leaking from their thinning bones, which can threaten their health.

By engaging in proactive measures today, women can reduce their chances of suffering from osteoporosis and feel younger, even if they have spotted a gray hair or two.

Steps to reducing the risk of osteoporosis:

· Engaging in weight bearing exercises two to three times a week

· Taking calcium supplements daily to obtain a diet rich in calcium

· Limiting alcohol consumption and not smoking

· Remaining alert to medications that can deplete your bones

Texas Back Institute

As one of the nation's largest spine clinics, the Texas Back Institute is the expert in solutions for back pain. Founded in 1978, the Texas Back Institute has always recommended non-surgical treatments because we know they work best to relieve pain in most patients. The professional staff includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons with spine fellowship training, general surgeons, general medicine physicians, internists, chiropractors, physiatrists, pain specialists, exercise physiologists and a team of physical and occupational therapists. From non-operative spine care to surgery, the Texas Back Institute offers chiropractic care, diagnostic procedures, fitness services, pain management, patient education, physical therapy, research and return-to-work programs including work conditioning and work hardening.

To learn more about the Texas Back Institute and to obtain free updates and helpful back tips, go to www.texasback.com or call 1-800-247-BACK. Texas Back Institute's main office in Plano, with offices in Denton, Fort Worth, Garland, Greenville, Hurst, Midland, TX and Phoenix, AZ. For additional information, visit the Texas Back Institute website at www.texasback.com

MEDIA CONTACT
For more information, contact Meredith Falke, (214) 891-7795 meredith_falke@richards.com

Consumer phone number: 1-800-247-BACK