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Manchester Memorial Hospital • Winter 2013
more likely than men to get osteoporosis, according to the
National Osteoporosis Foundation.
There are a couple of reasons for this. First, compared
with men, women typically have less bone tissue to begin
with. Also, because of hormonal changes that take place
around menopause, women lose bone mass
faster than men as they age.
Others at increased risk for the disease
include people who:
●
Have a family history of osteoporosis
●
Have a thin, small frame
●
Have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa
●
Eat a diet low in calcium and vitamin D
●
Are not physically active
●
Smoke
●
Are longtime users of certain medications,
including some that treat hormone problems,
seizures, asthma, arthritis or cancer
Checking bone health
Most of the time, there are no signs that osteoporosis is
developing. A person may become aware of the disease
only after a fall results in a broken bone.
But even if there are no telltale symptoms, your
doctor can determine your bone health with a
bone mineral density (BMD) test.
The best BMD screening test, experts
say, is a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
(DXA) test. It uses low-level radiation,
similar to an x-ray, and it measures
BMD at the hip and spine.
The test is
quick and
painless.
Health news
Y
OUR BONES ARE like a building’s foundation.
They’re the crucial underpinnings of your entire
body. But just as time can cause a building’s foun-
dation to crack and erode, diseases can weaken your bones.
One such disease is osteoporosis. Without notice, it can
sap strength from your bones, making them brittle and
more likely to break.
Osteoporosis is a common disease, but there are
things you can do to help prevent it. And if you al-
ready have the disease, there are treatments to slow
or even stop its progression.
When bones weaken
Osteoporosis literally means porous
bone. It occurs when bone mass is
lost over time.
Normally, the body creates
new bone tissue to replace old
bone as it wears out. But for
most people, by about age
35 the body isn’t able to
make enough new bone
to replace all of the bone
that’s lost. Bones very
gradually get thinner
and weaker.
While osteoporosis
can occur in anyone
at any age, it is more
common among
women and older
adults. In fact,
women are
four times
A
NGELA RICE, DO, born
and raised in Manchester,
Ky., has joined Manchester
Memorial Hospital’s Family Medical
Care clinic.
“I am committed to this area,”
Dr. Rice says. “My roots are here,
and I desire to give back by helping
Strong bones,
healthy
life
Dr. Angela Rice
joins Memorial Hospital Clinic
to positively affect the overall health of this community.”
Dr. Rice has been practicing family medicine since 2005
and is board-certified by the American Board of Family
Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Fam-
ily Physicians. She received her medical degree at Pikeville
College School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002. Being
able to provide health care for individuals of all ages was her
motivation for specializing in family medicine.
Prior to coming to Manchester, Dr. Rice worked as assis-
tant professor, clinical faculty, for the East Kentucky Family
Practice Residency Program of the University of Kentucky
Department of Family and Community Medicine.
Dr. Rice will continue to teach at UK’s training program
in Hazard while she develops her practice here. She is married
and has three children, all of whom are very involved in sports.
To schedule your appointment with Dr. Rice,
please contact our Family Medical Care clinic at
(606) 599-9955
.
Don’t guess your risk...
Osteoporosis testing now available
We are pleased to announce the arrival of new osteo-
porosis testing technology!
Memorial Hospital now has a Lunar Prodigy
Advance densitometer from GE Healthcare, which
performs a safe and easy test to help determine risk
for osteoporosis. The test takes only a few minutes,
and afterward a digital report can be sent directly to
your physician.
Contact your physician to determine your potential
need for osteoporosis testing. Osteoporosis may be
successfully prevented and treated when doctors can
detect and intervene early.
Taking care of your bones
If tests show you have osteoporosis—or if you’re at risk
for it—your doctor is likely to recommend a healthy diet
that includes adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium,
along with exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, such
as walking.
In addition, there are a number of medications that can
help prevent or slow the progression of the disease. Ask your
doctor which bone-building strategies are right for you.
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