Mahaska Health Partnership Encourages Bone Health

Mahaska Health Partnership

Mahaska Health Partnership

MAHASKA COUNTY – Bones play a major role in the body. They provide support and protect vital organs, as well as store calcium and help keep muscles in place. Osteoporosis, a disease of the bone that increases the likelihood of fractures affects approximately 9 million Americans. Mahaska Health Partnership encourages bone health and wants to teach you how to prevent osteoporosis.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, nearly 60% of adults aged 50 and older are at risk for breaking a bone. Osteoporosis affects more women than heart attacks, strokes and breast cancer combined. While there is no cure for osteoporosis, there are steps to prevent, slow or even stop its progression.

“Diet and exercise, not unlike many other diseases, can work wonders for your bones,” Family Practice Physician Dr. Peter Hoftiezer shared. “Make sure to get the calcium and vitamin D your body needs on a daily basis. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, running and climbing stairs also help maintain bone density. Try to refrain from smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, as those can contribute to weakened bones.”

Dr. Hoftiezer went on to explain how important bone health is throughout life. “By the time you are 18 years of age, around 90% of your bone mass has been developed. It is very important that parents help children build strong bones, as that is their best defense against weak bones later on in life.”

Some risk factors that increase a person’s risk for osteoporosis include family history, gender and age. “If you are a female who has a family history of osteoporosis, your risk is very high,” Dr. Hoftiezer warned. “I recommend anyone with risk factors to have a bone density screening.”

Osteoporosis is undetectable by feel; you can’t tell if your bones are weakening. Bone density tests are used to detect changes by comparing images of your bones to images of healthy bones at your age. These tests are covered every two years by Medicare. “I suggest anyone with a history of the disease or who is over the age of 65 and has never had a bone density test to get one.”

Bone density tests are offered monthly on the MHP campus. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hoftiezer, call 641.672.3360.

Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641.672.3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.

Posted by on May 28 2014. Filed under Lifestyle, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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