LIVE WELL DAYTON ›› WOMEN’S HEALTH
Dr. Jennifer Jerele important that a woman not smoke, or if she does to quit as soon as possible. “Adjust your lifestyle,” McCullough urges.
If a woman has developed osteopenia or its more serious cousin, osteoporosis, there are some medical options available. McCullough notes that use of hormone therapy has undergone a pendulum swing in how it is used, but current wisdom recommends “the smallest doses for the least time.” He also notes that there are other prescriptions available, but “many are expensive and not without side effects.” If loss of bone mass has progressed too far, however, a woman might experience more serious consequences. According to Dr. Jennifer Jerele, an orthopedic surgeon with Premier Orthopedics, it is common to see hip and wrist fractures, which are called “fragility fractures.” Wrist fractures, such as those of the distal radius (the part of the bone nearest the hand), might require a simple cast or might require an external fixation device or internal plates and screws to repair. These repairs can be challenging because if much of the bone integrity has already been lost it is difficult to hold the remaining bone together. Hip fractures may be even more compli-
cated, requiring either a partial or a full hip replacement. “Those over 65 have a harder time recovering,” says Jerele. In this age group, a hip fracture can lead to a cascade of other problems such as recoveries that require a nursing-home stay and a drop-off in ability to exercise. “They [often] can’t get back to normal activity.” Orthopedic surgeons like Jerele will work with the patient’s family physician, endocrinologist and other members of a health-care team to make a treatment plan to help the patient prevent further bone loss and fractures. That team will “insure going forward that we do anything (we can) to prevent (further problems),” she says. Loss of bone mass and resulting osteopenia and osteoporosis are not an inevitable part of aging. McCullough explains that reaching age 50 really puts a woman at the beginning of the second half of her adult life and there is a lot of health and happiness yet to come. By paying attention to bone health women can enjoy their second half to the fullest. n
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