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What should you do if you're diagnosed, or more importantly, what should you do never to be diagnosed with osteoporosis?
Over the next six weeks, I’m going to take a deep dive into the research, not what social media influencers say, but what the actual science says about the cause, and how to prevent osteoporosis.
One and five adults in the world is dealing with osteoporosis.
However, there is a greater than tenfold variation in hip fracture probability between countries. They suggest that excessive bone loss is not just a consequence of aging.
It is a consequence of lifestyle management, which we will cover over the next few weeks as we address the following 10 topics:
1. How do osteoporosis drugs work?
2. Side effects of osteoporosis drugs.
3. Are calcium supplements good for you?
4. Are Calcium treatments effective?
5. Should vitamin D supplements be taken
6. Is milk good for your bones?
7. Three reasons why fruits and vegetables must be included in your diet to prevent bone loss
8. Onions and tomatoes?
9. The best type and frequency of exercise to prevent bone loss.
10. The single most important thing you can do right now to prevent bone loss.
Today, I’m going to cover the medications that have proven to cause bone loss and, thus, fractures.
Some drugs cause a weak bone structure.
Stomach acid inhibitors or PPIs, also known as protein pump inhibitors, remain one of the world‘s most frequently prescribed medications. Popular brands like Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium
In 2006, two observational studies out of the UK and Denmark were the first to report an association of PPI intake and the risk of hip fractures and other locations
By 2010, there was an overwhelming majority of evidence that forced the USDA to issue. A safety alert, implicating the use of PPI with fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine.
As of 2018, there have been dozens of studies with over 2 million people that have shown an overall higher hip fracture rate among users of all dosing levels
The irony is that most people on these drugs should not be taking them in the first place. I'll explain that in a bit.
The FDA approved PPIs for 10 days to treat heartburn, for 2 to 8 weeks of GERD, and 2 to 6 months for ulcers
Based on large-scale, community surveys, researchers found that 60% of patients initially prescribed PPIs were still taking them for over a year, and 31% were taking them for three years or more. And there was ample evidence of most primary care physicians prescribing these types of medications for general indigestion.
Now, PPIs are available over-the-counter for the general population to gain easier access, and make it harder to discontinue.
Researchers concluded that the best way to deal with acid reflux without drugs is the focus on lifestyle intervention, such as weight loss, avoiding fatty processed foods, especially eating heavy meals 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
An increased consumption of fiber and a more plant-based diet has been shown to reduce acid reflux and GERD.
Researchers also concluded that a non-vegetarian diet is associated with a 95% increase in risk for acid reflux
Other drugs associated with a high risk of fractures are H2 blockers such as Zantac and Tagamet.
Bone loss is not inevitable because of aging; one of the many things that you can consider is the potential side effects of the medication you might be taking
In the next segment, we will review the research about the drugs used to treat or prevent bone loss.
The take-home today...just because you're getting older, doesn't mean you will lose bone. You are in control of your bone density!