Capital Women's Care - Baltimore

12/31/2024

08/17/2024

What to expect in baby’s first weeks, days, and months.

06/29/2024

Take a look at all of the services and care Capital Women's Care has to offer as a women's care center. Visit us online or in person!

02/28/2022

Vaccination is recommended before, during, and after pregnancy.

10/01/2021

Yearly Influenza Protection:

Why It’s Important

Now more than ever it’s important to get your yearly flu vaccine, no matter what your age or health, especially since COVID-19 risk continues.

Influenza vaccination offers key health protection for all. Most
importantly, it staves off potentially severe illness and even death for those populations susceptible to health complications directly related to influenza infection: babies, older people, pregnant women, and those trying to conceive. Plus, those populations with compromised immune systems.

Remaining populations opting to get flu protection via vaccine or nasal spray gain added health protection should they become infected. Those who get a yearly flu vaccine are less likely to suffer severe flu symptoms or develop complications, often avoiding doctor visits or requiring hospitalization. In 2018, the U.S. flu vaccine was about 40% effective in reducing flu symptom severity enough to eliminate doctor care or hospital treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC.)

Yet a recent survey conducted by Families Fighting Flu, an advocacy group made up of people with a family member who became severely ill or died from the flu, found more than 40% of respondents didn’t believe in the importance of getting yearly influenza vaccine as part of their annual personal health plan.
Additionally, more than 50% of those eligible to get a yearly influenza vaccine don’t receive it, according to CDC, even with ample availability of yearly vaccines. On average 170 million flu vaccine doses are manufactured each year, according to CDC, with upward of 190 million flu vaccines available during the 2020-2021 flu season complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s more, CDC confirms disparities within specific U.S. populations failing to obtain yearly flu protection, even with ample flu vaccine manufactured. CDC data indicates lower rates of flu vaccine protection occur among younger adults and those with African American or Hispanic heritage.
Even with ample flu vaccines available, millions of potentially life-saving doses go unused each year.

Your local Capital Women’s Care team wants to empower you with important information about the importance of yearly influenza vaccines, including explanation of available flu protection; general eligibility guidelines for receiving influenza vaccine; influenza complication risks and those flu complications specific to susceptible populations, including babies, older people, women who are trying to conceive, those who are pregnant, and those populations with compromised immune systems or chronic health conditions; and healthy habits to implement to avoid flu infection.
Flu Season and Vaccine Basics

In the U.S., flu season is considered October through May. During the 35-year period between 1976 and 2011, flu activity most often peaked in February. Other high-ranking months for flu activity include January, March and December.
Seasonal influenza, or flu, is a dangerous illness on its own that can affect people of all ages and health. Preliminary CDC data for the 2019-2020 flu season (ending May 2020) indicate flu factored into at least 18 million visits to U.S. healthcare providers. In that same time frame, flu directly contributed to 410,000 hospitalizations and 64,000 deaths within the U.S. Flu continues to be solely responsible for tens of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year, while sidelining millions more within all age brackets for several days to weeks.

Seasonal flu symptoms to watch for include:
-fever
-chills
-cough
-sore throat
-muscle and/or body aches
-headaches
-and general fatigue.

It’s important to monitor flu symptoms and know emergency warning signs requiring immediate emergency treatment.
CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine.
Flu vaccination protects not only your health, but also protects the health of loved ones within your family and community, especially those facing greater flu complication risks: babies, older people, pregnant women and those with compromised immunities.
Available Flu Protection

There are 2 primary types of flu protection available:
Trivalent flu vaccines protect against 3 different flu viruses and are made using an adjuvant (an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response.) These are approved for those age 65 years and older.

Quadrivalent flu vaccines protect against 4 different flu viruses. Standard-dose quadrivalent influenza shots are manufactured using virus grown in hens’ eggs.

Different influenza shots are licensed for different age groups:
A quadrivalent cell-based influenza shot contains virus grown in cell culture and is licensed for those age 4 years and older. This vaccine is egg-free.

A recombinant quadrivalent influenza shot, an egg-free vaccine, is approved for those age 18 years and older.

A quadrivalent flu shot using an adjuvant (an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response) is approved for those age 65 years and older.

A quadrivalent high-dose influenza vaccine is licensed for those age 65 years and older.

Most influenza shots are given via intramuscular injection in the arm. One quadrivalent influenza shot (Afluria Quadrivalent) can be given either via needle (for those age 6 months and older) or with a jet injector (for those age 18 through 64 years only).

Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray is approved for those age 2 through 49 years. Live attenuated influenza vaccine should not be given to pregnant women, those who are immunocompromised, and some other groups.

If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you or your family, talk to your healthcare practitioner.
When to Get Flu Protection

All people ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year.

It’s important to get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading within your community, since it takes about 2 weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide flu protection.

Plan to get vaccinated early in fall before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
However, getting vaccinated early (for example, in July or August) is likely to be associated with reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults.

Vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.

Children who need 2 doses of vaccine to be protected should start the vaccination process sooner, because the 2 doses must be given at least 4 weeks apart.

How Flu Protection Is Determined

Influenza vaccines are determined at the end of flu season (February in the Northern Hemisphere and September in the Southern Hemisphere) based on the prevalent strains spread throughout the previous year’s influenza season.
Extensive research indicates the previous flu season’s 4 prevalent strains are those most likely to infiltrate the population during the next consecutive influenza season. This information decides the protective factors in the vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines the final proponents, with manufacturing occurring during spring and summer. Flu vaccines are available for administration to the general population in September.
Influenza viruses are prone to change genetically, causing mutated strains that may lessen vaccine effectiveness; however, those who get yearly influenza vaccine have reduced risk of serious flu symptoms and complications, including death.
Flu Complications

Those who don’t to get flu protection via vaccine or nasal spray risk several complications should they get seasonal flu. Complications include:
-sinus and ear infections
-pneumonia
-inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle (myositis, rhabdomyolysis) tissues
-and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure.)

Flu virus infection of the respiratory tract can trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and can lead to sepsis, the body’s life-threatening response to infection.

Flu illness is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, millions of children become sick with seasonal flu; thousands of children are hospitalized, and some children die from flu.

Children commonly need medical care because of flu, especially children younger than 5 years old.

Complications from flu among children in this age group include pneumonia; dehydration; worsening of long-term medical conditions like heart disease or asthma; brain dysfunction (encephalopathy); sinus issues and ear infections; and in rare instances, even death.

CDC estimates that since 2010, flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old have ranged from 7,000 to 26,000 in the U.S. It’s noteworthy that among reported pediatric deaths, about 80% of those children weren’t fully vaccinated.
Populations diagnosed with certain chronic diseases have high risk of flu-related complications. Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with chronic heart disease may experience worsening of this condition triggered by flu. Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, asthma, and chronic heart disease (even if well managed) are among the most common long-term medical conditions that place people at high risk of developing serious flu complications. It is particularly important that populations with these or other chronic medical conditions get a flu shot every year.

Getting flu can cause serious problems when you are pregnant. Even if you are generally healthy, changes in immune, heart, and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to get severely ill from flu. Pregnant women (and women up to 2 weeks postpartum) who get flu are at high risk of developing serious illness, including being hospitalized.

Flu complications can also severely affect adults aged 65 years and older. This population is at high risk of developing serious complications from flu, compared with young, healthy adults. This risk is due in part to changes in immune defenses with increasing age. While flu seasons vary in severity during most seasons, people 65 years and older bear the greatest burden of severe flu disease. In recent years, it’s estimated between 70% to 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths in the U.S. occur among people 65 years and older, and between approximately 50% to 70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occurred among people in this age bracket.
Healthy Habits To Avoid Flu Infection

CDC recommends a “Take Three” approach to protecting yourself and your family members against flu infection:
1. Take time to get a flu vaccine.
2. Take everyday preventive actions that may slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) illnesses, like flu.
3. If you do become sick with flu, take prescription antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them. Early treatment is especially important for the elderly, the very young, people with certain chronic health conditions, and pregnant women.

Additionally, there are several everyday preventative measures you and your family can take to guard against flu infection:
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
-While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw it in the trash after using it and wash your hands.
-Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as that’s how flu germs spread.
-Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause respiratory illnesses like flu.
-For flu, CDC recommends that you (or your child) stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

Your Capital Women’s Care team is here should you have any questions or concerns about seasonal flu protection and how to implement it within your personal health plan or any woman’s health issue. Our goal is to help you achieve and enjoy optimal health and long, quality life through our comprehensive and professional expertise, from individualized health plans and preventative services through all stages of women’s health, including diagnoses, treatments and follow-up care.

https://www.cwcare.net/news/seasonal-influenza-protection

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/08/04/897696326/2020-flu-...
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.html
https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/imm...
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children.htm
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chronic...
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/pregnant.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/actions-prevent-flu.htm

08/06/2021

Breastfeeding goes beyond providing the best nutrition for your newborn -- breastfeeding also provides many important health benefits for both you and your baby that continue throughout your lives. Yet according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) only 1 in 4 infants is exclusively breastfed, as...

06/11/2021

Be a Life Saver -- Donate Blood
Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood donation is a vital necessity, one that has become even more important, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blood donation is an essential gift of life, as it is often required for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, lifesaving care begins when someone donates blood.
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day, and your local Capital Women’s Care team wants to share with you the value and importance of becoming a blood donor, how donated blood is used in specific medical treatments and what you can expect during blood donation process.
Why Donate Blood?
In addition to helping to save lives, there are many reasons why donating blood is important:
-Blood cannot be manufactured. Despite medical and technological advances, blood and platelets cannot be made, so donations are the only way to give to those in need.
-Donated blood must be continually replenished, as blood components have limited storage lifetimes. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days or less and platelets must be used within just 5 days. This means blood donations are always needed to replenish those blood components already used to help others.
-Blood is needed every two seconds in the U.S. Nearly 21 million blood components are transfused in the U.S. every year. You can be one of the 6.8 million yearly donors in the U.S. who has done something to help others.
-Only 37% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood or platelets. Of these age-eligible donors only 3% opt to donate.
-You, your friends, or loved ones may need blood someday.
-1 donation can save 3 lives. One blood donation provides different blood components that can help up to 3 different people.
-You can help a wide range of people. Blood donations are necessary for many medical treatments, from those diagnosed with cancer to people who have sustained injuries in car accidents.
-According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than 1.8 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer just last year, with many needing blood, sometimes daily, during chemotherapy treatment.
-A single car accident victim may require as many as 100 units of blood.
Blood Types
There are very specific ways in which blood types must be matched for safe transfusion. The right blood transfusion can mean the difference between life and death.
Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens, substances that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to the body. Since some antigens can trigger a patient's immune system to attack transfused blood, safe blood transfusions depend upon careful blood typing and cross-matching.
There are 4 major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens – A and B – on the surface of red blood cells. In addition to the A and B antigens, there is a protein called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent (–), creating the 8 most common blood types (A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, AB-).
Rh-negative blood is given to Rh-negative patients, and Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood may be given to Rh-positive patients. The rules for plasma are the reverse.
There are 600-plus known additional antigens, the presence or absence of which create rare blood types. Certain blood types are unique to specific ethnic or racial groups. That’s why an African-American blood donation may be the best hope for the needs of patients with sickle cell disease, many of whom have African ancestry.
It is important to know your blood type, including your Rh factor, in the event you require a blood transfusion.
Universal Donors
Universal donors are those who can donate either their red cells or plasma to anyone. The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood. The universal plasma donor has Type AB blood. Those with either Type O negative blood or Type AB blood are encouraged to become regular donors because their red cells or platelets can help more people.
Blood Donation Process
Donating blood is a safe and straightforward 4-step process:
-registration -- you are signed in and go over basic eligibility requirements. You need to show a photo ID (your driver’s license.) You then read information about the donation process and provide your complete mailing address.
-medical history and mini-physical -- You are asked a few questions about your health history and places you traveled to during a private, confidential interview. Let staff know about any prescription and/or over the counter medications that may be in your system. Your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin levels are checked.
-donation – If you are donating whole blood, an area on your arm is cleansed. The technician inserts a brand-new sterile needle for blood drawing that feels like a quick pinch and is over in seconds.
-A whole blood donation takes about 8-10 minutes, during which you’ll be seated comfortably or lying down. Approximately 1 pint of whole blood is drawn. A bandage is then placed on your arm once the process is complete.
-Other types of donations, such as platelets, are made using an apheresis machine which connects to both arms.
-For platelets, the apheresis machine collects a small amount of blood, removes the platelets, and returns the rest of the blood through your other arm; the cycle repeats several times over approximately 2 hours.
-and refreshments -- After making your blood donation, you have a snack and something to drink in the refreshment area. Donors can leave after 10 to 15 minutes and continue with a normal routine.
-If possible, make sure you schedule your next blood donation appointment before you leave.
Types of Blood Donations
There are 4 types of transfusable products derived from blood:
-red cells
-platelets
-plasma
-and cryoprecipitate.
On average 2 or 3 transfusable products come from 1 pint of donated whole blood. Each whole blood donation can help to save more than 1 life.
A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and is safely discarded afterwards.
The actual donation process typically takes 10 to 12 minutes or less. The entire process, from arrival until completion, takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The average adult body has approximately 10 pints of blood within. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.
Who Benefits from Blood Donations?
Blood donors help people of all ages every day, including:
-Cancer patients, who benefit from platelets donation. Specific cancers and cancer treatments prevent patients from producing their own platelets.
-Trauma and surgery patients, who benefit from Power Red donations. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body to ensure its systems function properly. AB Elite plasma donation also benefits these patients because AB plasma is required to help stop bleeding. Type AB, the universal plasma donor's blood type, can be given to any patient needing plasma.
-Sickle cell anemia patients, who benefit from whole blood donations, especially from African-America blood donors. These patients require multiple transfusions and must be very closely matched to the donor’s blood type, usually from the same ethnic and racial group.
-Burn patients, who benefit from AB Elite plasma donations. Plasma helps maintain blood pressure and other vital functions. Type AB, the universal plasma donor's blood type, can be given to any patient needing plasma.
-Patients with chronic diseases. A single whole blood donation can help more than 1 person facing chronic illnesses. All blood types are needed.
It is important to share any medical diagnoses and medications you are currently taking (over the counter or those which are prescribed), as some conditions and medications may cause blood donation ineligibility. With some medications, once final doses are taken and a waiting period occurs, people may then become eligible to be blood donors.
What If I Am Ineligible to Donate Blood?
If you are determined ineligible to donate blood, you can still make a huge difference. You can
-host or plan a virtual blood drive
-become a Red Cross volunteer
-or make a financial donation.
The need for blood donations is continuous and your contribution is important to ensure a healthy, reliable blood supply. Plus, you will help to change someone’s health and life. Your local Capital Women’s Care team is here for you should you have questions or concerns about your health, including those relating to how blood donation or transfusion may become part of your individual health plan and care. Our goal is to provide you with quality, comprehensive care and treatment to ensure you achieve and enjoy a long, healthy life.
To learn more about blood donation and the Red Cross, please visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

05/21/2021

Taking care of our bones is a crucial part of our health that is often overlooked by many adults in the U.S. This inattention to bone care and health by many can have severe impact not only on the health of bones, but also on overall health quality, particularly as aging occurs. The greatest negative health consequence of not prioritizing bone health and care is osteoporosis. Today, there are approximately 10 million Americans diagnosed with osteoporosis. Of those diagnosed, about 8 million (or 80%) are women. What’s more, an additional 44 million American people are currently at risk for developing the condition within their lifetime.
What’s more, almost half of all U.S. women over age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. In Americans ages 50 years and over, osteoporosis of the femur, neck or lumbar spine is found in 4% of men and 16% of women.
Here are some additional concerning statistics regarding osteoporosis and its effects:
An estimated 1.5 million fractures occur each year within the U.S. and are direct results of osteoporosis.
A woman's lifetime risk of fracturing a hip equals her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.
Half of all hip fracture patients never regain full function of the affected joint; nearly 25% of Americans age 50 and older who suffer a hip fracture die within 1 year of their injury.
Osteoporosis can be a debilitative and even life-threatening disease that can permanently affect your mobility and impact your independence and overall health, including the quality and longevity of your life.
May is designated as National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Your local Capital Women’s Care team of health professionals wants to share valuable tips to reduce your osteoporosis risks, preventative practices you can implement within your personal health plan, plus an overview of screenings and tests available so you can achieve and maintain optimal bone health, an important component of retaining quality of life as we age.
What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones within the skeletal system, increasing the likelihood of bone fractures due to frailty and compromised structure. The condition is quite common in the U.S., where more than 3 million people are diagnosed annually.
Osteoporosis affects more women than men, especially those ages 50 years and older.
Treatments can help manage osteoporosis, a condition which can last several years or be lifelong, but there is no known cure. Lab tests and imaging can help diagnose and manage osteoporosis; however, urgent medical attention is recommended in severe cases.
How Does Osteoporosis Occur?
Osteoporosis occurs when the body continually seeks calcium, the most abundant mineral found within our body, from our bones, which store 99% of the body’s total calcium supply which is used primarily to support bone structure and function. This continual leaking of calcium from bones weakens them and makes them frail, increasing risk and susceptibility to fractures.
Ideally, the body turns to our nutrition as the supply source for necessary calcium required for our body to perform several other functions. Calcium is required for all muscle movements and for nerves to carry messages between the brain and our body’s systems. Additionally, calcium is used to help blood vessels move blood throughout our body and to help release hormones and enzymes. Less than 1% of our body’s total calcium supply is needed to support these functions.
However, when the body doesn’t receive enough calcium through nutrition, it turns to our bone tissue as its reservoir for and source of calcium to maintain constant calcium concentrations within our blood, muscle, and intercellular fluids. Constant calcium depletion from bones weakens them over time, increasing their vulnerability and risk of fractures, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.
Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption and deposition of calcium into new bone. The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes as we age. Bone formation exceeds resorption in periods of growth in children and adolescents. In early and middle adulthood both processes are relatively equal. We typically reach peak bone mass at around age 30. Peak bone mass determines when and if bones become negatively affected by calcium loss due to age-related imbalance of resorption and deposition. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds formation, resulting in bone loss that increases osteoporosis risk over time.
Osteoporosis Symptoms
Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease” because there are typically no symptoms until a bone is broken or one or more vertebrae fracture. Fractures (or collapses) in the vertebrae can cause it to bend forward.
Symptoms of vertebral fracture include severe back pain with possible curvature, sloping shoulders, loss of height, or spine malformations such as a stooped or hunched posture known as kyphosis.
Osteoporosis in the vertebrae can cause serious problems for women. A fracture in this area can happen during day-to-day activities like climbing stairs, lifting objects, or bending forward when you have osteoporosis.
Bones affected by osteoporosis may become so fragile that fractures occur spontaneously or as the result of
minor falls, such as a fall from standing height that would not normally cause a break in a healthy bone.
normal stresses like bending, lifting or even coughing.
Osteoporosis Risk Factors
Knowing your osteoporosis risk factors can help you and your practitioner implement strategies within your personal care plan to lessen your risk or impact on your overall health should you be diagnosed.
There are several inherent osteoporosis risk factors, including:
Glandular health problems. Osteoporosis more often affects those having issues involving the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands.
Small body frame and bones. Those having small, thin frame and bone structures (Body Mass Index of 19 or less) are more likely to have bones which are less dense and more fragile, and therefore more susceptible to fracture.
Family history of osteoporosis or bone fractures. If one of your parents has had a broken bone, especially a broken hip, you may need earlier osteoporosis screening.
S*x. Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men, as they have lower peak bone mass and smaller bones than men. However, men are still at risk, especially after age 70.
Race. White and Asian women are at highest risk. Black and Mexican American women have a lower risk. White men are at higher risk than Black and Mexican American men.
Poor calcium intake or absorption resulting from disease or treatment medication for diagnosed diseases. Celiac disease, seizure disorders, asthma, depression and/or anxiety, eating disorders, HIV/AIDS, digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease and diabetes may affect calcium absorption.
Additionally, some medications can also diminish the body’s abilities to absorb calcium, including cancer chemotherapies used to treat bladder, ovarian, testicular, and esophageal advance-staged cancers; anticoagulants; corticosteroids; and thyroxine, among others.
Discuss your overall health conditions and medications with your practitioner to enlist the best health management plan that includes optimizing your bone health, especially if you’re diagnosed with osteoporosis or have family history of the condition.
It’s important to maximize bone health throughout all the stages of your life. You can minimize your osteoporosis risk by following important bone health recommendations that combine into a powerful plan to achieve and maintain good bone health so you can enjoy a long, healthy life.
Reduce Your Osteoporosis Risk
Fortunately, you can do several things to reduce your osteoporosis risk. You can:
Stay physically active. Exercise increases calcium absorption in the body. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends these exercise guidelines:
Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity.
Do strength training exercises for all major muscle groups at least two times a week.
Do physical activities you enjoy. Weight-bearing exercise like walking, dancing, kickboxing and running in combination with strength exercises like free weight training are great ways to keep bones healthy. Being active also decreases your susceptibility to falls and subsequent fractures.
Drink alcohol in moderation. Excess alcohol consumption interferes with calcium absorption. Women should limit alcohol intake to 1 beverage daily and men should limit alcohol to 2 beverages daily.
Eliminate smoking. Quit smoking, avoid starting if you don’t smoke currently and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
Take your prescribed medications as directed which can help prevent fractures if you’re diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Eat a nutritious diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to help achieve and maintain bone health. Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium from the intestine. Beginning in childhood and into old age, a diet low in calcium and vitamin D can increase your risk for osteoporosis and fractures. Excessive dieting or poor protein intake may also increase your risk for bone loss and osteoporosis.
Foods rich in calcium include:
low-fat dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese)
dark green leafy vegetables, such as Bok choy, collards, and turnip greens.
broccoli
sardines and salmon with soft bones
and calcium-fortified foods, including soy and rice beverages, tofu, fruit juices, cereals, and breads.
You can get vitamin D from:
protected exposure to sunlight
fatty fish and fish oils (cod liver oil)
egg yolks
beef liver
canned tuna
swordfish, mackerel, and salmon
vitamin D fortified foods, including milk, orange juice, and cereals.
Following recommended daily requirements of both calcium and vitamin D can increase your overall bone health. You may also incorporate dietary supplements if your diet doesn’t adequately meet your requirements.
Avoid excessive caffeine intake and high-sodium foods, as they both cause the body to expel calcium before valuable absorption takes place. Be sure to include daily requirements of lean protein, which also aids calcium absorption, into your diet.
Osteoporosis Screening
Currently, screening for osteoporosis is recommended for women who are 65 years and older and for women who are between ages 50 to 64 and have certain risk factors, including having a parent who has sustained a hip fracture.
You can use the FRAX Risk Assessment Tool to learn if you should be screened. It uses several factors to determine how likely you are to have osteoporosis.
Screening for osteoporosis is commonly done using low-level x-rays called dual/energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Screening also can determine low bone mass density which can precede and increase risk of osteoporosis.
DXA uses low levels of x-rays as a scanner passes over your body. The test measures the bone mass density (BMD) of your skeleton and at various sites prone to fracture, like the hip and spine. Bone density measurement by DXA at the hip and spine is generally considered the most reliable way to diagnose osteoporosis and predict fracture risk.
A peripheral DXA measures bone density in the wrist and heel. This type of DXA is portable and may make it easier for screening. However, the results may not help doctors predict your risk for fractures in the future or monitor the effects of your medications on the disease.
Your doctor will compare your BMD test results to the average bone density of young, healthy people and to the average bone density of other people of your age, s*x, and race.
If your test results show that you have osteoporosis, or if your bone mass density is below a certain level and you have other risk factors for fractures, your doctor may recommend both lifestyle approaches to promote bone health and medications to lower your chance of breaking a bone.
Sometimes, your doctor may recommend a quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of the heel. This is a test that evaluates bone but doesn’t measure BMD. If the QUS indicates you have bone loss, you will still need a DXA test to diagnose bone loss and osteoporosis.
Your Capital Women’s Care team is here to answer your questions and address your concerns about all aspects of your health, including your osteoporosis risk. Our compassionate healthcare professionals offer you sound, knowledgeable guidance on achieving and maintaining bone health so you can enjoy a long, healthy life.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/osteoporosis.htm......
https://www.nof.org/
https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/
https://www.bones.nih.gov/heal.../bone/osteoporosis/overview
https://www.bones.nih.gov/healt.../bone/bone-health/juvenile
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/causes/
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/osteoporosis
https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/.../blog/osteoporosis-why...
https://www.medicare.gov/blog/osteoporosis-month-2020
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45515/
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https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-Consumer/
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https://www.bones.nih.gov/heal.../bone/osteoporosis/overview

Talk to your doctor about your family health history of osteoporosis. If one of your parents has had a broken bone, especially a broken hip, you may need to be screened earlier for osteoporosis.