Page 17 - Mid Valley Times 8-5-21 E-edition

Thursday, August 5, 2021 | A17 | Mid Valley TiMes
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By Ro Linscheid
Recently we had
a resident arrive at Sierra View Homes Nursing Care Center for rehab who has the diagnosis of Osteopo- rosis. What is osteo- porosis? It is a weak- ening of the bones. The bones can weaken until they break with
the slightest event. It is often called the “si- lent disease” because changes in the bones are not noticeable un- til there is an incident or a break.
Our bones are living tissue. The strength in our bones comes from our bodies breaking down old bone and replaces it with new bone. Young children build bone and bone strength continu- ously in the process of growing up. Around age 30, we stop in- creasing bone mass and by age 40-50 the bone replacing new bone becomes much smaller.
If you look inside the bone, you see
what looks like a hon- eycomb. Osteoporosis causes the honey- combs to enlarge and the bone that forms the honeycomb gets smaller. In addition, the outer shell of the bone becomes thinner.
Osteoporosis can happen at any age, but mostly older people have the disease. White and Asian women are most likely to have osteoporo-
sis. Studies show the risk of osteoporosis grows as you get older. Women, as they en- ter menopause, may lose bone quickly for
several years and then the loss slows but continues. Men can have bone loss too. They lose mass at a slower rate, but can have the same prob- lems of bones break- ing easily by age 70.
There are things
you can do to pre- vent bone loss. Eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D is important. Exercising with weight-bearing in mind helps the muscle and tendons around the bone stay strong and support- ing the bone. Weight bearing exercises such as weight training, walking, hiking, jog-
ging climbing stair, tennis and dancing are some suggestion of weight-bearing activities.
Bone density tests can tell you if you have osteoporosis.
If you are age 65 or older talk to your doc- tor about how to get a test. Knowing if your bones are thinning
is important so you can be more careful. Activities that have a twisting motion puts pressure on the thin- ning bones causing the bone to break. It is also very important that you avoid falling. Hitting a hard surface such as the floor can
snap the bone causing the need for surgery and a hospital stay.
Rehab centers help people recover from broken bone surgery. Therapy helps the muscles and tissue around the bone to
be strong and sup- port the bone as it heals. Bone health is important as you age and taking action to protect your bones is the best way to age with grace and agil- ity. Work with your doctor to find out your bone density and then plan how you will move forward in protecting your bones.
HERBAL MEDICINE
respect as they would more conventional medicines. Herbal medicines can affect the body in various ways. A frank discus- sion with a physician can shed light on the potential side effects of herbal medicines and whether or not they’re safe.
Why should seniors
be concerned about herbal medicines?
The NHS notes that seniors taking other medications may experience problems if they begin taking herbal medicines as well. The National Center for Comple- mentary and Integra- tive Health, which is part of the U.S. De- partment of Health
and Human Services, notes that more well- designed studies are necessary to fully evaluate interactions between herbal medi- cines and prescription drugs. However, the NCCIH notes that some evidence points to some harmful ef- fects of mixing the two. For example, the NCCIH reports that
prolonged exposure to concentrated garlic extracts may reduce the efficacy of some drugs. The potential for these types of interactions should be enough to compel seniors to think twice before taking herbal medicines without first consulting their physicians. In addi- tion, the NHS has
developed a list of various types of peo- ple for whom herbal medicines may not be suitable, and that list includes the elderly.
Seniors consider- ing herbal medicines should discuss the pros and cons of such products with their physicians prior to taking anything.
Continued from Previous Page
they’re putting into their bodies.
What are herbal medicines?
The National Health Service of the United Kingdom, a widely respected and pub- licly funded health care system, describes herbal medicines as those with active in- gredients made from plant parts like leaves, roots or flowers. Be- cause herbal medi- cines are made from plant parts, many people assume they’re safe to take without consulting a physician. However, the NHS urges people to treat herbal medicines with the same care and
I have osteoporosis?
Health & Fitness
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