Focus on Conditions: Osteoporosis

What causes Osteoporosis?

It is not known what exactly causes osteoporosis although genetic factors are certainly important, and your risk of developing the disease increases if your parents suffered with this problem. In addition, we know that certain lifestyles that enhance your risk of osteoporosis include avoidance of dairy products, low calcium intake, minimal sunshine exposure, and lack of exercise.

As osteoporosis becomes more severe, even the daily forces of gravity and standing straight can lead to vertebrae in the spine that collapse resulting in height loss and a stooped over posture. This may cause chronic low back pain, but in general, osteoporosis is a silentsteoporosis is a silent process until a fracture occurs. It is usually associated with aging and it is preventable.

Prior to the fracture, it is very important to diagnose osteoporosis to prevent the consequences. This can be done simply by measuring your bone density. This is a quick, painless test that allows a diagnosis to be established and a decision to start therapy is usually based on the results.

Osteoporosis, like hypertension, is considered a silent (common) disease. Like hypertension, the consequences of the disease can be devastating leading to hip or other bone fractures, height loss, tooth loss, postural changes, and chronic back pain.

Who is at risk?

At most risk are individuals with a family history of osteoporosis, prior fractures, advancing age, smokers, heavy alcohol users, and those with low bone density. In addition, certain medical conditions such as Celiac Disease increase the risk of osteoporosis as well as the treatments for other diseases, such as steroids used to treat chronic lung diseases and a myriad of other conditions.

Treatment Options:

The treatment of osteoporosis starts with addressing lifestyle issues to optimize bone health, including dietary modifications, mineral and vitamin supplementation, and appropriate exercises. If the condition is severe, then fall precautions need to be reviewed in detail. Prescription medications for osteoporosis are quite effective and overall have minimal or rare side-effects. There are a number of different types of prescription medications. These medications are available in oral, intravenous, and nasal spray formulations with dosing frequencies to provide a convenient approach to treatment.

Risk Assessment

http://www.iofbonehealth.org/patients-public/risk-test.html

CHSLI programmatic offerings

Fracture Prevention Program

The Good Samaritan Fracture Prevention Program represents a strategic approach to identify and target those individuals at highest risk for fracture. The Osteoporosis Fracture Prevention Program utilizes an Osteoporosis Specialty Case Manager, supervised by Medical Director Barry Gruber, M.D., to organize and administer the program. Together they will thoroughly assess patients who are at risk for fragility fractures. Individuals who enter the program will undergo an intervention which includes (when appropriate) bone density measurements, risk assessment, laboratory investigation, pharmacotherapy, and counseling along with education. The enrollees will then be monitored over time to assess whether the intervention is meeting expectations and goals as defined for each patient. Lastly, efforts to maintain improvements in individual clinical care are essential to the success of the Good Samaritan Fracture Prevention Program.

Contact the Fracture Prevention Program:

500 West Main Street, Suite 110 Babylon, NY 11702
Phone: (631) 376-2663
Fax: (631) 376-4800

Contact Information:

St. Francis Hospital:
The Women’s Center at St. Francis Hospital, 516-629-2130

St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center:
Frank Bonura, MD, Director of OB-GYN, 631-724-6262

St. Charles Hospital:
Jennifer Semel, Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 631-474-6879

Mercy Medical Center:
Joseph I. Cohn, MD, Attending Physician, 516-678-5330

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center:
Barry L. Gruber, MD, Medical Director, 631-376-2663