Leading Bone Health Expert Underscores Importance of Osteoporosis Screening
An interview with Professor Cyrus Cooper, one of the world’s leading experts in osteoporosis research, has revealed that osteoporosis screening is a vital part of assessing and treating osteoporosis. Prof. Cooper holds the belief that education and assessment through a mass screening program are key factors in creating an international collaborative effort in preventing and treating osteoporosis. This finding coincides with the purposes of an online fracture risk assessment tool that the World Health Organization has sponsored, which they hope will raise awareness among people all over the world through the internet of their risk for fracture and possible osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is defined as a reduction in bone mass over time coupled with microscopic degeneration of bone tissue which leaves a person prone to fractures. It commonly affects the elderly and women more than men. Find out more about this bone-degenerating disease at the Fosamax class action lawsuit information center, where updates and more information may be found.
Here are the top five major risk factors for osteoporosis: Rising age, gender, cigarette smoking, vitamin D insufficiency, and heavy alcohol consumption. In addition to this the WHO assessment tool FRAX lists your body mass index, fracture history, glucocorticoid use, and secondary osteoporosis from diseases, such as, osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis affects about one in two women and as much as one out of five men and hence is regarded as a public health problem.
At present there is no mass screening process for osteoporosis in most countries. In North America there are accepted measurement procedures that allow doctors to detect bone fragility in patients over the age of 65, but not much else. Most diagnostic and treatment guidelines for patients with osteoporosis only recommend opportunistic screenings where osteoporosis is only assessed when it is suspected to be present. Mass screenings would actively seek out patients with osteoporosis or at risk for developing the condition and allow for patients to be aware and seek consultation for treatment sooner than otherwise possible.
Prof. Cooper advises that mass osteoporosis screening is important because, aside from the obvious benefits that early detection and treatment may afford, it may help to prevent future fractures. One of the biggest indicators of a patient’s risk of further fractures is a history of past fractures. Mass screening for osteoporosis would allow doctors to prescribe therapies to prevent fractures. More cases of osteoporosis and fractures may be prevented with more educational programs stressing the importance of mass screenings and early detection and treatment for osteoporosis.
URL Reference:
news-medical.net/news/20121217/Osteoporosis-screening-an-interview-with-Professor-Cyrus-Cooper.aspx
Osteoporosis is defined as a reduction in bone mass over time coupled with microscopic degeneration of bone tissue which leaves a person prone to fractures. It commonly affects the elderly and women more than men. Find out more about this bone-degenerating disease at the Fosamax class action lawsuit information center, where updates and more information may be found.
Here are the top five major risk factors for osteoporosis: Rising age, gender, cigarette smoking, vitamin D insufficiency, and heavy alcohol consumption. In addition to this the WHO assessment tool FRAX lists your body mass index, fracture history, glucocorticoid use, and secondary osteoporosis from diseases, such as, osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis affects about one in two women and as much as one out of five men and hence is regarded as a public health problem.
At present there is no mass screening process for osteoporosis in most countries. In North America there are accepted measurement procedures that allow doctors to detect bone fragility in patients over the age of 65, but not much else. Most diagnostic and treatment guidelines for patients with osteoporosis only recommend opportunistic screenings where osteoporosis is only assessed when it is suspected to be present. Mass screenings would actively seek out patients with osteoporosis or at risk for developing the condition and allow for patients to be aware and seek consultation for treatment sooner than otherwise possible.
Prof. Cooper advises that mass osteoporosis screening is important because, aside from the obvious benefits that early detection and treatment may afford, it may help to prevent future fractures. One of the biggest indicators of a patient’s risk of further fractures is a history of past fractures. Mass screening for osteoporosis would allow doctors to prescribe therapies to prevent fractures. More cases of osteoporosis and fractures may be prevented with more educational programs stressing the importance of mass screenings and early detection and treatment for osteoporosis.
URL Reference:
news-medical.net/news/20121217/Osteoporosis-screening-an-interview-with-Professor-Cyrus-Cooper.aspx