Podcast #9

Welcome to the 9th edition of Your Health. This is an audio program from Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, offering health information and suggestions to keep you and your loved ones healthy. I'm Neal Linkon, and some of what you are about to hear is in response to feedback from listeners like you. If you have questions, comments, ways we can help or ideas for future editions, please let us know at internet@aurora.org.

Men are from mars and I've always wondered where women are from, but one thing we know for sure is that they have different health needs. So much so, that there's a whole field dedicated to women's health. Dr. Kayt Havens is the administrative medical director at the Aurora Women's Pavilion at Aurora West Allis Medical Center. She tells us why women's health needs are different, and helps explain the whole notion of “midlife.”

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To learn more about women's health and the Aurora Women's pavilion, go to www.Aurora.org/women.

We hope it never happens, but we know better. Every now and then we let you down when it comes to service or basic courtesy. Somebody has a bad day, or just doesn't get it. We're human, and it happens. But that doesn't mean we want to ignore it.

If you ever have that situation at an Aurora facility or with one of our people, please let us know. The best place to start is with your doctor or staff person which whom you are having the problem. But if that doesn't work, or if you are uncomfortable, you can always contact the facility administrator and let him or her know of your concerns. Go to the facility tab at the top of our Web site to find the address or phone number for the location where you had your less than excellent experience.

You also can use the web. Go to www.Aurora.org/service and fill out as much of the form as possible. We'll make sure it gets into the right hands so we can get back to you with an apology, an explanation and hopefully what we'll do to make sure it doesn't happen again. And that's our primary interest, improving the quality of our service.

For whatever it is worth, you can use that same form to let us know if something went especially well for you. And rest assured that we get both complaints and compliments. Either way, we'd love to hear from you.

Our philosophy of care is called Care management.  In each edition of Your Health, we'll look at a Care Management initiative to give you a better idea of what this is all about. Most importantly, these segments will have meaningful and useful information to help you and your loved ones.

While more common in women, osteoporosis is a silent disease that causes bones to become fragile and prone to fracture, in both men and women. Bone loss usually occurs slowly over time, without symptoms.

All adults, especially women, should know about their risk for osteoporosis AND what they can do to prevent it. Osteoporosis leads to 1.5 million fractures of the hip, spine or wrist each year. More than half of those who survive will need long-term care. A smaller number of hip fracture patients do not even survive the first year.

So how do you know if you are at risk? Talk with your health care provider, as each person's risk will depend on many factors. If it appears you may have osteoporosis, your health care provider can request testing to find out for sure, such as a bone mineral density test. In general, the risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• Lifestyle – A diet low in calcium, not enough vitamin D, little or no exercise, cigarette smoking, and excessive use of alcohol are all risk factors.
• Gender – Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. This is due to women's lighter, thinner bones and the decrease in estrogen during and after menopause.
• Age – The longer you live, the more likely you are to develop osteoporosis. Although all of us lose bone tissue as we age, the amount and rate of loss varies widely with each person.
• Family history – Adults who have a personal history of breaking a bone, or have immediate family members who have had fractures, are at increased risk for osteoporosis.
• Ethnicity – Caucasian and Asian women are at highest risk. African-American and Hispanic women are at less -- but still significant -- risk.
• Body size – Low body weight – usually less than 127 pounds -- and a small-boned frame places you at risk. Prolonged use of certain medications –
• Long-term use of steroids used to treat conditions such as asthma, arthritis and certain cancers can lead to bone loss and fractures.

To reduce your risk, make sure you're getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Do regular weight-bearing exercise. Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise can improve strength and balance and reduce the risk of falls. Exercise can also promote a modest increase in bone density. Weight-bearing exercises -- which force you to work against gravity -- include walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing and tennis. Weight lifting improves muscle mass and bone strength. Always check with your health care provider before starting a new exercise program.

Do not smoke. Smoking is bad for your bones as well as your heart and lungs. Women who smoke have lower levels of estrogen and go through menopause earlier than nonsmokers.

Avoid overuse of alcohol. More than two to three ounces a day may be harmful to your bones. People who drink heavily are more prone to bone loss and fracture because of poor nutrition and an increased risk of falling.

Remember: Osteoporosis can be prevented. Talk with your health care provider about your risk for osteoporosis and whether you should be tested. Take action NOW to reduce your risk and prevent this disease from happening to you.  For more information, visit www.Aurora.org/Bones.

Thanks for listening to this edition of Your Health. I'm Neal Linkon, and we'd really like to hear from you. Send us an email at internet@aurora.org and let us know what's on your mind and how we can help.