WAC Magazine

May 2013

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Wellness By Elizabeth Smith Tamela Thomas, Wellness Manager tamelat@wac.net 206.464.4639 being dense isn't always a bad thing I t's much easier to hold onto your bone density than it is to rebuild it. Being proactive and monitoring your bone density can provide you with the information you need to take early action against bone loss. The WAC Wellness Center offers osteoporosis screenings and has worked closely with Medical Integration Services for more than a decade. The screening process takes only a few minutes, is noninvasive, and gives a numerical value of your bone density that you may provide to your health care professional. You'll also receive valuable information about how to prevent additional or future bone loss. The consultation and educational components of the screening are second to none. Increasing bone density can take years. This month's wellness article is a great place to start. Support your bones so they can support you Lifestyle changes can reduce risk of osteoporosis O steoporosis continues to receive major attention in local and national media. Many people, however, know very little about the disease, its risks and treatments. That doesn't mean it's not a concern. For anyone looking to gain more insight, here's a primer. Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone density. That means a person has less bone now compared to when they were young and their bones were at their peak. This is a result of bone mineral loss, which weakens bones and often causes them to break more easily, even from minor falls. When we look more closely at the bones of a person with osteoporosis, we see that the holes and spaces of their bones appear much larger than they would in healthy bones. Larger holes mean less density, which can increase the risk of fracture. Think of the inside of your bones as a honeycomb. The denser they are, the better. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, roughly 44 million Americans have low bone density or osteoporosis. Because so much of the attention surrounding osteoporosis focuses on women, it's easy to forget that men get this condition, too. In fact, about a quarter of the 44 million Americans with low bone density or osteoporosis are indeed men. We also are starting to find younger Americans of both genders at risk for osteoporosis. In other words, it's time to start paying closer attention to your bone health—and to consider altering your diet and lifestyle choices. A bone to pick Bone loss typically yields very few symptoms, making it a challenge to identify. Because of the silent nature of osteoporosis, early detection is critical. If you're age 50 or older and have broken a bone in the past, talk to your healthcare provider and ask if you should have a bone density test. This test 24 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | MAY 2013

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