Osteoporosis Fractures

" Hi and welcome to our web cast on doctor David Marks for women -- deal for the big concern is not -- bones it's broken bone. -- spinal fractures can be devastating to the life of otherwise healthy limit. But it will take a close look at the risk of fractures in what can be done well why don't. Joining me is doctor Michelle Warren. She's the director of the center for -- applause. Hormone disorder and for women's health to all one title at Columbia university in new York and now -- but we're glad to have you thank you. Now what are the consequence. Of undiagnosed. -- for a."

" Well basically fractures and they're devastating. Whenever they occur but. These spinal fractures often go diagnosed and -- terrible pain. Women go to bed for two weeks and -- height. And they developed. An ugly pump. And and they can develop gastrointestinal problems as the -- collapse. The hip fractures are even more devastating. Because I'm almost 20% of women who have -- actually -- structures of congress fracture. I thought it was spinal fracture final crackers are the most common and but they often go undiagnosed which is an interesting. Leon. Focus on hip fractures because. After an elderly patient has happened practioner. They liked the quality of life so effective. Tell me how it affects a person's life. And people might think that it fracture OK you. Particularly in Japan and I -- well not if you've ever taken care anybody elderly and you know you have a mother what the problem it's it's. What happens is a hospitalization. Operation. Physical therapy. Very often in nursing home awhile until the patient learn the skills to walk again. And then the issue is whether they're going to be able to live on -- I'm and so that depends on how good their ballots is how good their strength that is very often related to age. Any population that's over seventeen. It's a devastating thing and it's very often means. That they become dependent on another. Now I heard a lot about people who were healthy and had a hip fracture and and they went downhill from there mentally and physically. You don't often oh yeah it's very continents and it and I think not only do doctors worry about it but patients themselves. Recognized -- they've seen this in their friends. What is it about is -- There's no connection directly between the head and hit what is it about this problem at right it's it's a big operation. And patience. Who are elderly -- taking out of their environments for a long period of time. I'm very often you do need blood transfusions because you can believe -- to be broken hip. So there are issues apply pressure and blood pressure falling. And if you quite sick after accurate not a small. -- event at all. What about spinal fractures of the very common practice that is right they don't really. Well they can no they're not quite as devastating but they are an important signal. That there's osteoporosis and their very common. The problem with spinal fractures caused terrible pain. And patients can be in Bedford for two weeks at twelve month without going. That they had a spinal fractures. Because very often we don't look for them but if you have ones final practice you have four times -- chance of getting another within a year. So it's an important thing to know -- Now there's a wrist fractures loser on the right right what Carla Collins fracture they are common because. As patients get older they if they trip and fall they acted upon outstretched hand and and to break that I don't that is also. Often a sign of osteoporosis. But not always it's not quite as -- has happened to be very common fracture because. Elderly people attend phone. Those three -- common fractures it. Hip. In spinal right that those of us that Cali sound and the risk hip and spine the most common. What does the clock to -- financially or any kind of an estimate. I -- time I -- and the sound. The cost to the healthcare system is enormous it's one of the most important. I -- to Medicare. And it's in the billions of -- and now it it's a big issue the problem is of course they tend to be silent disease and you don't know you have it. Until all of a sudden you had a hip -- and eat you know very often. And once a patient has a hip fracture it's too late to intervene. Aggressively. To really helped that patient get back. To being independent not always. But about 20% of patients and how you treat them still end up. Very crippled by the osteoporosis. Can briefly what can per week due to try to prevent these fractures. Well and you know you can choose your parents wisely because at that -- that -- you can eat well when you're not less than. You can. Exercise. And as you get older thank thank you have risk factors. And the -- back factors need to get an outbound and he kept and it should be done a woman at menopause because that's when he will lose a lot of phone. If you don't have respect -- actors and you should always have a pound and -- to 65. And obviously following up with the doctor regularly is the most important right right but you know I find that that one and have to ask for the thing that bone density because paint and doctors are very busy. And it's going with another problem. That may not be addressed so I find it's very that women have become educated about the human is important and -- preponderance. -- thank you for joining. -- take -- your health care and thanks for joining our webcast on doctor David mark could not."