Bone Health – Page 3

What I Wish We Had Known About Hip Replacements Before My Husband’s Surgery

When my husband’s hip and thigh pain prevented us from taking walks together, and then confined him to reclining on the couch watching TV all day, we knew he needed help. After an x-ray showed his ball and socket bones grinding against each other, hip replacement surgery was recommended. To prepare, I talked to everyone… Continue reading What I Wish We Had Known About Hip Replacements Before My Husband’s Surgery

One-Third of Women Taking Bisphosphonates Remain at Risk for Fracture

More than 53 million Americans age 50 and older, primarily women, have osteoporosis or are at high risk for the condition due to low bone density. A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Bone in June 2016 found that approximately a third of women prescribed oral bisphosphonates, the most commonly prescribed osteoporosis treatment, continue to… Continue reading One-Third of Women Taking Bisphosphonates Remain at Risk for Fracture

Arthroscopic Hip Surgery Not Always The Best Choice

Although patients over 60 with hip problems might choose minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery instead of a total hip replacement, that may not always be the best option, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan. Analyzing patient databases from California and Florida, researchers looked at how many patients ended… Continue reading Arthroscopic Hip Surgery Not Always The Best Choice

71% of Hip Fracture Patients Not Told They Have Osteoporosis

More than seven in 10 older adults who suffer hip fractures aren’t told they have the bone-weakening disease osteoporosis, despite the fact that hip fractures nearly always signify the presence of this potentially debilitating condition. That is the finding of research done in May 2016 by physicians atNorthwell Health in Great Neck on Long Island,… Continue reading 71% of Hip Fracture Patients Not Told They Have Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis: Get Checked

Nearly 56 million American adults have osteoporosis or low bone density. Each year, osteoporosis causes two million broken bones in the U.S. alone. These fractures result in more than half a million hospitalizations, more than 800,000 ER visits, more than 2.6 million trips to the doctor, and the placement of nearly 200,000 individuals into nursing… Continue reading Osteoporosis: Get Checked

Is Osteoporosis Surgery Better than Medication?

While most cases of osteoporosis are caused by normal aging, another leading cause of the bone-loss disease is a condition called hyperparathyroidism, in which the parathyroid glands release an excessive amount of a hormone that regulates the body’s calcium levels. Doctors commonly treat hyperparathyroidism using a class of prescription drugs called bisphosphonates, including alendronate (marketed… Continue reading Is Osteoporosis Surgery Better than Medication?

Arthritis: What You Need to Know

The word “arthritis” makes many people think of painful, stiff joints. But, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments. Most types of arthritis are chronic. That means they can go on for a long period of time. Arthritis can attack joints in almost any part of the body. Some types… Continue reading Arthritis: What You Need to Know

Improving a Controversial Arthritis Treatment

Cornell University bioengineers have discovered that a common but controversial osteoarthritis may be more effective when it is adjusted. Injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) are a common treatment of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee – a condition that affects 27 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The injections replace… Continue reading Improving a Controversial Arthritis Treatment

Good Bone Health Essential for Independence

Good nutrition can make a difference in your bone health and affect your ability to live an independent life, according to a new scientific review. The conclusion is true no matter what age you are. The review was published in the journal Osteoporosis International by leading bone and nutrition experts, in anticipation of World Osteoporosis… Continue reading Good Bone Health Essential for Independence

Women with Knee Osteoarthritis Experience More Pain Than Men Do

Among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, women experienced greater sensitivity to various pain modalities — such as lower tolerance to heat, cold, and pressure — and greater widespread pain than men. The study was published in October 2015 in Arthritis Care & Research. A release from the pubisher notes that the findings may be… Continue reading Women with Knee Osteoarthritis Experience More Pain Than Men Do

Yoga Improves Arthritis Symptoms and Mood

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that a randomized trial of people with two common forms of arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, has found that yoga can be safe and effective for people with these conditions. A release from Johns Hopkins notes that eight weeks of yoga classes improved the physical and mental wellbeing of… Continue reading Yoga Improves Arthritis Symptoms and Mood

Solve the Medical Riddle: Her 14-year-old Daughter Had Knee Pain and Difficulty Climbing Stairs, Fourth Week

Editor’s note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth as we share the details of what happened when a patient presented with a problem that stumped the physician at first. The first week of this riddle, the patient and her mother reported the patient’s symptoms to her PCP.… Continue reading Solve the Medical Riddle: Her 14-year-old Daughter Had Knee Pain and Difficulty Climbing Stairs, Fourth Week

Choosing Nutrient-Dense Foods

In choosing what we eat, it’s important to focus on nutrients. Foods known as “nutrient-dense” have vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats, according to NIH SeniorHealth, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Here, the SeniorHealth experts tell you what foods you should focus on: Fruits and vegetables – These foods… Continue reading Choosing Nutrient-Dense Foods

Solve the Medical Riddle: Her 14-year-old Daughter Had Knee Pain and Difficulty Climbing Stairs, Third Week

Growth Hormone Reduces Risk of Osteoporosis Fractures in Older Women

For years after it was administered, growth hormone continued to reduce the risk of fractures and helped maintain bone density in postmenopausal women who had osteoporosis, according to a study done in August 2015 and published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. A release from the society notes that osteoporosis is… Continue reading Growth Hormone Reduces Risk of Osteoporosis Fractures in Older Women

Solve the Medical Riddle: Her 14-year-old Daughter Had Knee Pain and Difficulty Climbing Stairs, Second Week

Editor’s note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth as we share the details of what happened when a patient presented with a problem that stumped the physician at first. Last week, the patient and her mother reported the patient’s symptoms. The doctor proceeded with the examination using… Continue reading Solve the Medical Riddle: Her 14-year-old Daughter Had Knee Pain and Difficulty Climbing Stairs, Second Week

Solve the Medical Riddle: Her 14-year-old Daughter Had Knee Pain and Difficulty Climbing Stairs, First Week

Editor’s note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth as we share the details of what happened when a patient presented with a problem that stumped the physician at first. We’ll start this week by letting you know what the patient and her mother told her PCP and… Continue reading Solve the Medical Riddle: Her 14-year-old Daughter Had Knee Pain and Difficulty Climbing Stairs, First Week

Learning to Live with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain comes in a wide variety of forms, and the causes are many. Recent studies show that nearly one third of us — more than 100 million Americans each year, suffer from back pain, joint pain, arthritis; neck and muscle pain, headache and other types of recurrent pain. People who suffer from chronic pain… Continue reading Learning to Live with Chronic Pain