Diagnosis & Prevention

Diagnosis

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is diagnosed by measuring bone mass. Bone mineral density (BMD) tests are useful for confirming a diagnosis or detecting low bone mass. The BMD test is the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) test. It is considered the best test to measure BMD. Ask your doctor which test is right for you.

Prevention

There are several ways to help prevent PMO:

• Get Your Calcium
  Most women get much less calcium than they need—as little as half. Nutritionists recommend eating foods naturally rich in calcium such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream; dark green, leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, collard greens, and spinach; sardines and almonds. If you don't eat dairy, you can meet your calcium needs with foods that are fortified with calcium, such as orange juice, or with calcium supplements. Talk with your doctor before taking calcium pills to see which kind is best for you.
• Vitamin D
  Vitamin D is needed to help the body absorb calcium. Most people get enough vitamin D by getting about 15 minutes of sunlight per day, and many foods are also fortified with vitamin D. But older adults and people with little sun exposure may need to take a vitamin D supplement. Food sources of vitamin D include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver.
• Exercise Your Bones
  If you are postmenopausal, you might think exercise will lead to fracture. In fact, exercise slows bone loss, improves muscle strength, and helps your balance. The best exercises to help prevent PMO are weight bearing—anything that makes your body work against gravity. Weight-bearing exercise helps build and maintain strong bone. Anything from taking a walk to tending your garden can help.
• Other Things You Can Do
  Don't smoke. Smoking damages your bones and lowers the amount of estrogen in your body. It is also recommended that you drink alcohol in moderation. Alcohol can make it harder for your body to use the calcium you take in.
• Preventative Medications
  Vivelle-Dot^® reduces the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The patch also helps control moderate to severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness and atrophy associated with menopause. Not all estrogen therapy is indicated for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. If you are using Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your health care professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.