Patient education Osteopenia

Patient education Osteopenia is crucial for those newly diagnosed Persons with loss of bone density need to make some changes in their daily activites if they are going to stop and/or reverse bone loss.

Since they feel no symptoms, Patient education Osteopenia is the greatest key to sticking with a treatment program.

Studies have shown that even those with the more advanced condition of Osteoporosis, those who are at significant risk of bone fracture, stop their prescribed treatment after a few short months. But those who receive clear and accurate information and follow up are much more faithful to better bone health habits.

What has been shown to be effective Patient education Osteopenia? Most women and men who are given reading materials about bone loss and what can be done about it, do read the materialand tend to be more compliant with treatment plans. But a simple pamphlet and 10 minutes in the office is not enough.

Bone loss is a complex condition. There is no single cause: for some there is a genetic component for others it is a outcome of sedentary life style or habits of eating or drinking. In others their thinning bones are the result of specific medical conditions or their treatments. When patients understand the relationship of their daily habits tobone strength, they are often more motivated to make changes that can make their bones stronger and prevent fractures.

What are the main elements for Patient education: Osteopenia?

Explain that that this test measures bone density and then compares the patients bone density with that ofhealthy 35 year olds ( usually a peak time in bone strenght) as well as with his or her own age group.

Show the patient where the T sconre is on the results page. The tell them that:

If a T score is between +1 and -1, bone density is said to be normal.

But if a T score is between -1 and -2.5, bone density is said to be Osteopenic.

Below -2.5 is defined as Osteoporosis.

You can show them their Z score but be sure to explain that this is not very helpful since it compares them with their age group and if many people in their age group have fragile bones and are subject to fracture, the patient may have a highZ score ....but this does nothing to change the fact that their lower T scors shows them that they are at risk of fracture and of developing Osteoporosis or porous bones.

2. It is important to explain to your client, that recent studies have shown the Osteopenia puts them at risk forfractures too. Explain that if they suffer a hip fracture because of low bone density, they may lose their indpendence.(It has been found that retaining independence is a high motivating factor for compliance with a bone building plan.)

3.It is also important in any Patient education Osteopenia to let patients know that they can decrease their risk of fracture by some simple changes in life style:

a. avoiding caffeine, using littel alchohol and eliminating soda pop (which often upsets the phosophoros balance)
b. adding or increasing weight bearing activites. c. taking supplemental calcium ANd that a supplement that combines calcium, Vitamin D3, magnesium, boron, Vit K is better than just adding calcium. That these supplements should be taken with meals and it is good to take some in the evening since pth is most active at night.

4. Is this all to Patient Education Osteopenia?No, you do want your clients to continue their own education. It is worth giving them a list of books that they can read.Most are availabe in the local library. See: Osteopenia Books .

For those who use a computer, you may want to give them the web address of this site. It is one of the few comprehensiveweb sites dedciated to Patient Education Osteopenia and not Osteoporosis. Suggest that reading one or two pagesa week is a good way to educate themselves.

Then the next time you see your client, ask what they have learned on their own. Ask if they have developed any new habits: how much they exercise and what kind of exercise they do;whether they are taking supplements and if so when they take them; if they have made any changes in their eating habits.

Impress on your client how important their working at building stronger bones is....that they do not want to lose their independence because of fractures.

5. Each time you meet with your client, be sure to ask what they are doing to help strengthen their bones. And whenyou do the 2 year follow up of the dexa scan be sure to go over it. If your client has gained any bone density, besure to make the connection between lifestyle habits and this increase AND that if they continue, they may get out of risk.This is very important because there is a tendency to slide back into old ways when an improvement is seen. The patientthinks, OH,I am OK now.

If the bone density shows no improvement BUT also shows no worsening of the condition be sure to explain that thisis a postiive result. That one would normally expect a 2-4% additional loss in a two year period and her compliancehas slowed or stopped that loss.

Such Patient education Osteopenia will pay off in higher compliance and better bone health.

To find some specific articles that will be helpful to understanding the life style changes that can increase bone density, go to theIndex page of this site since it offers many articles bearing on Patient education Osteopenia