World Osteoporosis Day may only be one day this month (October 20th), but that doesn’t mean you should focus on the health of your bones every day. At Call 4 Health, we may offer top telemedicine services, but an important aspect of our work is to help promote the health of our clients’ patients.
World Osteoporosis Day is a reminder to individuals to schedule an appointment with their doctor for the early prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. It is a reminder to love your bones as much as you do every other part of your body.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bone, causing them to become weak and brittle over time. When the bone becomes weaker, it, in turn, grows more susceptible to fracturing. Bones that are most vulnerable and likely to develop fractures take place in the hips, wrists, and spine. Although broken bones can heal, they can still cause many problems in a person’s life, such as loss of mobility and severe pain. The older people get, the more likely they are to develop osteoporosis, with women being affected by the disease more than men.
It is an extremely common disease, with over 3 million cases every year in the U.S. alone. Our patient access solutions will allow hospitals, clinics, and private practices to always attend to their patient’s needs with our 24-hour service.
The Silent Disease
Some people call osteoporosis the “silent disease” because the common warning signs are so easy to ignore. After all, people are not able to hear or feel their bones weakening. By the time symptoms become obvious, the bones have significantly weakened and result in fractures. Other ways this common disease can show itself is through stooped posture and pain after a fracture.
The Importance of Screening
There are preventative measures that you can take to keep osteoporosis from ruining your life. Screening is the most important preventative measure. You should perform osteoporosis screening regularly. Women who are aged 65 and older should have it done every two years if their first test was abnormal. Individuals age 65 and older who had a normal test can wait approximately ten years until their next test. Of course, you should not wait until you are 65 to have your first screening test, and even if you wait 10 years until your next screening, you should do everything you can to prevent bone loss in between.
Common Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis
Here are some common ways people can prevent and even treat osteoporosis.
More calcium: This is no myth – calcium is an important part of strengthening bones.
More vitamin D: To ensure your body absorbs that calcium, it is important to take a lot of vitamin D.
Other minerals: Calcium plays a big role in prevention, but it isn’t the only mineral you need. Iron, zinc, and magnesium play a role, as well.
Soy food: Incorporating more soyfoods into your diets, such as tofu, tempeh, soy milk, and edamame can increase bone mineral density.
Less coffee: There is no exact reason why, but coffee may be linked to decreasing bone density. Drinking soda can be equally as harmful, as well.
Bottom Line
This common disease has affected millions, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it affect you, too. Regular screening and changing your diet will make a big impact on how you respond to osteoporosis. Do not focus on your bone health only one day out of the year. Be consistent and intentional when it comes to preventing and mitigating this disease.
Call 4 Health
We are the leaders in providing a first-rate experience with patient calls. We have helped hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, medical equipment companies and more improve their patient experience with our telemedicine services in Delray Beach, FL, and throughout the U.S. Call (855) 244-3258 to learn more about our services.
Founded after a personal, heart-wrenching incident more than 20 years ago, Call 4 Health has gone from solely offering after-hours answering services to being a top-rated, complete communications BPO for healthcare facilities throughout the country.
