Who is Affected by Osteoporosis?

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Dr. Tasha Bienert, MD, discusses Who is Affected by Osteoporosis? Talk to your Family Physican if you have questions. 

Dr. Tasha Bienert, MD, discusses Who is Affected by Osteoporosis? Talk to your Family Physican if you have questions. 

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Video transcript

Featuring Dr. Tasha Bienert, MD

Who is Affected by Osteoporosis? Duration: 1 minute, 24 seconds

Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone mineral density, or bone mass.

This is important because it increases your risk of fracture in the body. One in four women over the age of 50 will have osteoporosis, however this isn't just a women's condition; one in eight men will also develop osteoporosis over their lifetime.

Important fracture risk with osteoporosis includes spinal fractures; these fractures involve the lumbar or vertebrae of the back, most often the lumbar area and can cause disfigurement as well as chronic pain. The other area of fracture risk is hip, and hip fracture is a major concern of the population. In patients who develop hip fracture, 80% of those will have had osteoporosis; the importance of knowing this is 20% of patients who have hip fracture will die within the next year.

If you think you may have low bone mass, it's important to speak with your family physician, because there are a few things you can do. One includes there's screening with bone mineral density as well there's guidelines for lifestyle management. This includes adequate calcium intake, adequate vitamin D intake, as well as fitness goals.

If you feel you may be at risk for low mineral density or you have a family history of this do speak with your family physician.

Presenter: Dr. Tasha Bienert, Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC

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Test your knowledge by answering the following questions: ( 18 participated.)

Test your knowledge by answering the following questions:

Questions
 
True
False
1

In a patient that has osteoporosis, the risks of bone fracture are much higher than any risks associated with taking osteoporosis related medications.

2

A patient who is high risk for bone fractures has a greater than 20% risk of getting a fracture.

3

Patients with Osteoporosis need to focus more on muscle strength and posture rather than preventing bone fractures.

4

Bone fractures can cause morbidity as well as mortality.  For example, a woman who gets a hip fracture has a 23% chance of dying in the following 2 years.

5

A person who gets a bone fracture have a 40% chance of having another bone fracture at some point in the future. This is one reason it is so important to focus on the prevention of bone fractures.

This content is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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