photo by: LMH Health

LMH Health, 325 Maine St., is pictured in May 2021.

It isn’t uncommon to see a funny TikTok or Instagram reel of a 30-something person getting out of bed and realizing they’re having new aches and pains as they age. While the videos are meant in jest, the reality is that health problems that cause aches, pains and breaks will affect many people later in life.

Deteriorating bone health is one of the issues that affects many older Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five women and one in 20 men over age 50 are affected by osteoporosis, a condition where bones thin, become weak and are more likely to break.

Dr. Mark Oertel, an endocrinologist with Lawrence Endocrinology, said age is only one of the risk factors for developing the condition.

“Women who are post-menopausal are at higher risk of having osteoporosis,” he said. “Certain medications can enhance risk, including the use of long-term prescription steroids, seizure medications and even stomach acid reducers like PPIs (proton pump inhibitors). Vitamin D deficiency, hyperparathyroidism and other health conditions can also be factors.”

Oertel said all women should be screened for osteoporosis at age 65, even if they’ve not previously had a bone fracture. Women who have broken a bone before should get screened at age 50.

One tool that LMH Health uses to monitor bone density is a DEXA (dual X-ray absorptiometry) scan. These scans measure bone density — the thickness and strength of bones — by passing high- and low-energy X-rays through the body, usually in the hip and spine.

“It’s a really simple test to screen for osteoporosis, equivalent to an X-ray,” Oertel said. “You lay on a table, we take an image and the radiology technician studies the density of the bones in your lower spine and hips.”

It only takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete the scan, and your results may be available the same day. DEXA scans can be performed at two locations — the Internal Medicine Group or the LMH Health West Campus.

Warning signs

A fragility fracture is one sign of osteoporosis. These are fractures caused by an event that you wouldn’t usually expect to result in one, such as a fall from standing height or less.

Dr. Adam Goodyear, an orthopedic surgeon with OrthoKansas, said it’s important for patients who have fragility fractures to receive care for the injury and the underlying medical condition.

“When I see someone for a fragility fracture — a hip, for instance — I know they likely have osteopenia or osteoporosis, and we can confirm with a DEXA scan,” he said. “A lot of the time you don’t know that you’ve got one of these conditions until you break a bone.”

One of LMH Health’s goals is to streamline care through a comprehensive fragility fracture program. The aim is for anyone with a fragility fracture to be followed by orthopedics and someone who medically manages their condition. It’s vitally important for patients living with osteopenia or osteoporosis due to the risks involved with the conditions.

“It’s important for us to try and prevent additional fractures. Once you have a fragility fracture, there’s a high risk that you’ll have another one,” Goodyear said. “We know that patients who have a fragility fracture in their hip have about a 30% mortality rate in the first year.”

While many primary care physicians care for patients living with osteoporosis, you may be referred to an endocrinologist for monitoring and treatment if your condition is more complex. It’s the third most common condition Oertel treats, outside of diabetes and thyroid issues.

But how does the program work? The team at OrthoKansas identifies patients who have had a fracture within the last six months and are at risk for osteoporosis and makes a referral to Oertel and the fragility fracture program. He sees patients one day each month at the LMH Health West Campus.

“Ideally, patients referred to the program will have a DEXA scan right before their appointment with me,” he said. “I look at the scan, we go over the results and come up with a treatment plan to prevent a second fracture.”

Prevention is key

Osteoporosis is a silent disease, one that many people don’t know they have until they’ve broken a bone.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are a few steps you can take to prevent the disease:

• Eat a nutritious diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to promote good bone health

• Stay physically active and participate in weight-bearing exercises such as walking

• Drink alcohol only in moderation

• Quit smoking or don’t start if you don’t smoke

• Take medications as prescribed

Oertel said osteoporosis screening, especially for women, is a crucial part of managing the disease. He said about 50% of women who are 65 and older will have a bone fracture during their lifetime.

“DEXA is a quick, easy test that can identify a condition that’s very common for women,” he said. “This is a great tool that we have at our disposal to diagnose osteoporosis. Being able to provide treatment for your underlying metabolic problem to prevent fragility fractures is just another way for us to help keep you healthy.”

— Autumn Bishop is the marketing manager and content strategist at LMH Health, which is a major sponsor of the Journal-World’s Health section.