84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 23, 1998
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Bone Research
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
READING (Berks Co.)
“Osteoporosis is a silent disease.”
That’s the message that Dr.
Ronald Emkey, director of Bone
Research Center, reiterates in his
many talks during the month of
May, designated as Osteoporosis
Prevention Month.
Osteoporosis is thinning of the
bones that results in fractures,
pain, and crippling posture caused
by low bone mass and deteriora
tion of bone tissue. About 25 mil
lion Americans have osteoporosis.
Four out of five are women.
Women are often unaware they
have osteoporosis until damage is
done.
Despite recent advances in the
treatment and prevention of osteo
porosis. research shows that 77
percent of osteoporosis goes
undiagnosed and only nine percent
that is diagnosed is being treated.
“This is abominable.” Emkey
sail
Because osteoporosis is undiag
nosed and untreated in the majority
of cases, every other woman 50
years and older will have a
osteoporosis-related bone fracture,
according to Emkey.
“More women die from compli
cations from osteoporosis than
from uterine or breast cancer. For
every 100 women who have a hip
fracture, 20 will die. Fifty percent
of those who have a hip fracture
will never fully recover,” Emkey
sail
It’s even possible for women to
have fractured vertebrae and not
even be aware of it. Emkey
showed slides of actual vertebrae
of osteoporosis patients in which
the vertebrae appeared to be only
half the size of that of a healthy
adult
According to Emkey, one of the
first signs of osteoporosis is an
ache between the shoulder blades.
Osteoporosis progressively and
irreversibly weakens the bones to
the point that any movement can
cause a painful fracture of the hip,
spine or other bones.
“The bone becomes so thin that
they may break from sneezing and
coughing,” he said.
As far as hip fractures, the bone
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“More women die from
complications from osteo
porosis than from uterine or
breast cancer,” said Dr.
Ronald Emkey, director of
Bone Research Center.
Emkey finds tt deplorable
that despite recent
advances in prevention and
treatment of osteoporosis,
77 percent of osteoporosis
goes undiagnosed and only
nine percent that Is diag
nosed is treated.
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become so brittle that it can break
by just walking.
In addition to fractures, osteo
porosis sufferers can experience a
loss of height, severe back pain, or
spinal deformities, such as stooped
posture or a humped back.
Some women are more likely to
develop osteoporosis than others.
The highest risk group is female,
slight or slender built, fair skinned,
a family history of osteoporosis,
low muscle mass, low bone mass
at age 35, and early menopause. A
hysterectomy puts women at even
great risk.
“The thinner you are, the greater
your risk. But I’ve seen 300-pound
women who also have osteoporo
sis,” Emkey said.
Risk is even greater for women
with a sedentary lifestyle, low cal
cium intake, cigarette smoking,
and increased intakes of protein,
alcohol, fiber, and caffeine.
‘Tor every drag of a cigarette,
you lose a little calcium. Second
hand smoke also depletes calcium
supply,” Emkey said.
Fiber, while touted to prevent
colon cancer, binds calcium, and
causes calcium intake to move out
of the body before being absorbed.
Emkey is concerned that many
young girls are not eating enough
calcium-rich foods. “We are see
ing girls in their 20s with osteopor
osis.” he said of the dangers of a
low-calcium diet during “peak
bone mass” years. Studies predict
that the incident of fractures from
osteoporosis will double the the
year 2050 because of so many
young girls not consuming enough
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calcium.
“You can’t take too much cal
cium. The recommended amount
of calcium is 1,500 mg daily for
post-menopausal women. After
the age of 50, people should take
calcium with Vitamin D because
the body does not absorb it well if
Vitamin D is not taken.
“Osteoporosis can be pre
vented,” Emkey said. He stresses
that every woman above 50 years
of age should have a bone density
test
Unfortunately many doctors do
not authorize die test and many
health plans do not cover it.
If you are diagnosed with osteo
porosis, it can be treated to prevent
additional bone loss. Your doctor
can prescribe a diet and exercise
program tailored to your needs.
Several medications such as estro
gen, alendronate, and calcitonin
can prevent further bone loss.
Additional therapies are also being
researched.
Emkey founded the Bone
Research Center located at the The
Reading Hospital and Medical
Center in 1990. The center is a
national leader in researching the
prevention and treatment of
osteoporosis.
The privately-funded center
uses volunteers to participate in
clinical studies of new drugs that
stop the devastating effects of
osteoporosis.
Bone density tests are available
free to women who participate in a
clincal research study conducted
by Emkey.
The study compares the effects
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of several different types of estro
gens in preventing bone loss com
pared with a control group taking a
placebo.
Participants must be post
menopausal and in relatively good
health. Age is not a deterrent
Emkey said participants range
from 35 to 90 years of age.
The screening process includes
a thorough physical examination,
free of charge. The exam includes
an electrocardiogram, mammo
gram, blood and urine specimens,
back and bone density (DXA) X
ray scans of the lower spine, hip
and whole body. In addition a
gynecologist will give a breast
examination, pelvic examination,
a Pap smear test, and a transvagi
nal ultrasound.
Participants are needed for
ongoing research. Participants are
reimbursed for travel expenses to
the center. In addition, they receive
free medication and calcium
supplements.
Emkey is especially interested
in comparing the bones of women
from a dairy background, who
have probably consumed calcium
rich dairy products for years com
pared to women from nonfarm
backgrounds. People who are pre
disposed to getting osteoporosis or
those who already have osteoporo
sis are also needed for the study.
The center is also studying
estrogen preparations and dings
that prevent and treat breast
cancer.
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