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15 Osteoporosis Questions to Ask Your Doctor
1. How can I prevent osteoporosis before it starts?
Experts now think osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease. And prevention starts early. Getting enough calcium as a child and teenager can dramatically cut your risks of developing osteoporosis later in life. Even if you're an adult, eating a good diet, getting enough calcium and vitamin D, exercising, and avoiding lifestyle habits such as smoking and excessive drinking, can help prevent osteoporosis. To learn about osteoporosis prevention techniques you should talk to your doctor.
2. Am I getting enough calcium -- and how much is too much?
The amount of calcium you need depends on your age. Adolescents need 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day. Adults need 1,000 milligrams up to age 50 and 1,200 milligrams after age 50.
The best way to figure out if you're getting enough calcium is to add up the amount of calcium in the foods you eat. For example, an 8-ounce glass of milk has nearly 300 milligrams of calcium, an 8-ounce cup of yogurt has between 250 and 400 milligrams of calcium, and 1.5 ounces of cheddar cheese has about 300 milligrams of calcium. Check the labels. Then compare what you're getting to the recommended amounts of calcium for your age group.
If you're coming up short, talk to your doctor about ways you can boost your calcium levels, like changing your diet or taking supplements. But don't assume that more calcium is always better. Some studies have shown that women who take a lot of calcium supplements are at higher risk of developing kidney stones. The recommendation for the highest tolerable intake of daily calcium is 2,500 milligrams of calcium a day. More than this amount may increase your risk of kidney stones and other problems.
3. Is calcium from dairy products better than from other sources?
Dairy products have high levels of calcium per serving, which is why they're often recommended for bone health. But calcium from other sources -- like spinach, bok choy, and mustard greens, beans, tofu, almonds, fish, and many fortified cereals and juices -- can be just as beneficial. However, it may be difficult to get adequate calcium from food if you don’t eat dairy. And osteoporosis experts do say the best source of calcium is from foods, not supplements. Food contains other important nutrients that help the body use calcium.
4. Does osteoporosis affect children -- and should I give them calcium supplements?
Osteoporosis in children is rare. It's usually the result of a chronic
health condition such as asthma or cystic fibrosis that is treated with
corticosteroid medications. Anticonvulsant drugs used to manage epilepsy,
bipolar disorder, and other conditions may also interfere with calcium and
vitamin D metabolism, leading to weak bones. Treatment usually depends on
controlling the underlying disease or changing the medication. Sometimes,
children will develop osteoporosis with no clear cause. It's called idiopathic
juvenile osteoporosis, and the good news is that it usually goes away on its
own within two to four years.
Of course calcium -- the most important nutrient for strong bones -- is
important for all children whether they have osteoporosis or not. Even if
children are healthy now, low levels of calcium in their diets can greatly
increase their risk of osteoporosis later in life. So keep track of how much
calcium your children get from food. If they aren't getting enough, supplements
may be an option. But never give your child a supplement without talking to
your doctor first.
WebMD Medical Reference
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
Taking Vitamin D and Calcium Together
Osteoporosis specialist Dr. Ethel Siris on why it's so important to take calcium with Vitamin D.
