Women are about twice as likely as men to develop osteoporosis, a disease that means your bones are weak and more likely to break after the age of 50. Research shows that some breast cancer treatments can lead to bone loss. In addition, if you’re a woman who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer, bone health is especially important for you, regardless of your race, ethnicity, or gender.
OrthoNOW® is your easy access facility to get specialized advice/care for ANY musculoskeletal or sports medicine concern. Dr. Alejandro Badia, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of OrthoNOW® the country’s only network of orthopedic urgent care centers, would like to share some tips with women during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Badia has seen a surge in women who have had breast cancer treatments and the increased risk for osteoporosis and fracture exist for several reasons:
- First, estrogen has a protective effect on bone, and reduced levels of the hormone trigger bone loss.
- Second, because of chemotherapy or surgery, many breast cancer survivors experience a loss of ovarian function and, consequently, a drop in estrogen levels.
- Lastly, the breast cancer itself may stimulate the production of osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone.
According to Dr. Badia, there are three lifestyle changes women can make to help keep their bones as strong as they can be:
- Nutrition: A well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is important.
- Exercise: Regular exercise, such as walking, may help prevent bone loss and will provide many other health benefits. Like muscle, bone is living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger.
- Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Those who drink and smoke heavily are more prone to bone loss and fracture, because of both poor nutrition and an increased risk of falling.
OrthoNOW®, the country’s only orthopedic urgent care franchise, offers a great technology for bone health called Juvent Health Micro-Impact Platform™. The Juvent Platform’s micro-impacts provide soft, controlled impulses to the musculoskeletal system. Research demonstrates that these micro-impacts can help promote bone health, and potentially reduce the effects of osteoporosis.
It is impossible to achieve total health without a sufficient amount of skeletal impact. This revolutionary system is actually very simple. Patients simply stand on the Juvent Platform (about the size and shape of a bathroom scale) for 10 to 20 minutes a day.
Using the Juvent platform, available exclusively at OrthoNOW®, just three days a week has been shown to help improve blood flow, ease joint, knee and back pain, and increase stability.
Sources: BreastCancer.org
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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