No Bones About It – You’re Not Alone

Make your bones as strong as your spirit. One in five women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.  But osteoporosis can be prevented through screening and lifestyle changes, and the William S Middleton VAMC is here to help. Most women do not even realize they have osteoporosis until they break a bone or experience issues with their spine. Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes bones to become weak and more likely to break.

We encourage you to have a conversation with your VA health care provider about how you can prevent osteoporosis, what lifestyle changes you can make to prevent osteoporosis, including getting a DEXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan at age 65 or earlier if you have risk factors for osteoporosis. A DEXA scan is a special type of Xray that tests your bone density.

Your VA primary care provider can partner with you to assess your risk factors for osteoporosis and create a plan to help you strengthen your bones. Women Veterans should be aware of factors that increase their risk of osteoporosis: Having a family history of osteoporosis, menopause, having a small, thin body (weighing less than 127 pounds), not receiving enough calcium or vitamin D, having a sedentary lifestyle, having an eating disorder, smoking, taking certain medications and drinking excessive alcohol.

The best way to reduce your risk of osteoporosis is through lifestyle changes. Focusing on these protective factors can strengthen your bones. If you can’t focus on all of them, choosing a few of them to focus on is still helpful to your bones: Not smoking, Regular weight-bearing exercises like walking, jogging, or dancing; getting enough calcium and vitamin D through eating a nutritious diet and spending regular time outside in the sun.

For more information on bone health and comprehensive health care services for women Veterans:

• Visit our website Women Veterans Health Care – Osteoporosis
•  If you have more questions related to your bone health, please reach out and have a conversation with your VA health care provider to make a plan for necessary screenings and preventative steps.
• You can also call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-829-6636.
•  She Wears the Boots Podcast on Osteoporosis: Learn about osteoporosis in women Veterans from Dr. Radhika Narla, VA Endocrinologist. She helps Veterans understand the importance of preventing bone fractures and resources to help them strengthen their bones.

For more information about the Madison VA Hospital, visit www.madison.va.gov or www.facebook.com/MadisonVAHospital and subscribe to our newsletters.