NORWALK, Conn., June 17 CT-HealthSaver-bones
NORWALK, Conn., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of people 50 and
older are at risk for osteoporosis, the most common bone disease, according to
the National Osteoporosis Foundation. It is essential to make bone health a
priority because bone loss occurs without symptoms.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080415/NYTUFNS1 )
"Osteoporosis, or the 'silent disease' as it is often called, is of
particular concern to women, who are more susceptible to it," said Peggy
Fleming, Olympic figure skating champion and HealthSaver spokesperson.
Bones protect the heart, lungs, brain and muscles, and store calcium, an
essential nutrient. Without strong bones, the risk of osteoporosis and broken
bones increases.
"Luckily it is never too late to prevent or treat osteoporosis," said Brad
Eggleston, vice president of HealthSaver.
Be sure you get enough calcium in your diet and stay physically active.
These are two of the most important things you can do to keep both your body
and bones at optimal health.
Calcium is Essential
-- If you do not consume enough calcium, your body will take the calcium
from your bones and use it to maintain healthy nerves, muscles and blood
levels. This loss of calcium causes your bone structure to deteriorate and
become fragile.
-- Since bone is living tissue that constantly renews itself, maintaining
strong bones is of utmost importance, especially in our early years. After
age 30, bone breakdown exceeds bone formation, causing us to reach our peak
bone mass. It is therefore necessary, by age 30, to have accumulated enough
calcium in our bones to maintain calcium requirements for both our skeletal
structure and our body.
-- A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that 78
percent of women and 55 percent of men over the age of 20 do not meet the
recommended calcium intake. Adults aged 19 to 50 need 1,000 mg of calcium per
day, and adults older than 50 need 1,200 mg.
-- Meet your daily calcium requirement with an English muffin and one cup
of low-fat fruit yogurt for breakfast; a baked potato with skim mozzarella
cheese, a cup of broccoli and a cup of baked beans for lunch; and an orange
and a handful of almonds as an afternoon snack. An 8-oz. glass of milk is
also a quick way to drink nearly one-third of your day's calcium requirements.
-- You can also enrich your meals with calcium. For pancakes, use milk
instead of water. Add non-fat powdered milk to casseroles and soups. Or
sprinkle low-fat cheese on salads. And don't forget about food labels. Aim
for foods with at least 10 percent of the Daily Value (DV) of calcium per
serving.
Risk Factors
-- Factors that increase a person's risk of developing osteoporosis
include age, sex, family history, body size, inadequate calcium intake, lack
of physical activity and certain lifestyle choices.
-- As you grow older, your body develops bone less quickly. Weak bones,
however, are not a natural part of aging.
-- People with a family history of fractures tend to have reduced bone
mass, according to the U.S. Department of Health. If broken bones are
frequent in your family, take extra steps to ensure optimum bone health.
-- Excessive alcohol consumption hinders the body's ability to absorb
calcium, resulting in reduced bone mass. Smoking also reduces the body's
ability to use calcium efficiently.
-- People who weigh less than 127 pounds may have a higher risk of
developing osteoporosis.
Ladies, Take Special Care
-- Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, due,
in part, to menopause. Menopause reduces the production of the female hormone
estrogen, which helps keep bones strong and intact. For several years after
menopause, women lose bone up to four times faster than they did before.
Women also have less bone tissue and lower bone mass than men.
-- Women's risk for hip fractures, the most destructive type of bone
fracture, is equal to their risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer,
according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Use It or Lose It
-- When you are physically active, your body receives a signal alerting
your bones to become stronger. New cells are then added to strengthen bone.
Therefore, if you do not exercise, your bones do not receive the message that
they need to be strong.
-- The U.S. Department of Health recommends 30 minutes of physical
activity each day for adults, and 60 minutes for children.
-- Weight-bearing exercises are best for preventing bone loss because
bones become denser when called upon to work against gravity. Examples of
weight-bearing activities include hiking, tennis and - if you prefer the gym -
stair-climbing machines.
Vitamin D and Supplements
-- Calcium isn't the only element needed for healthy bones. Vitamin D is
also necessary. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium by helping it enter
the bloodstream.
-- The main source of vitamin D is sunlight. Just 15 minutes per day is
all you need. Your diet can also provide vitamin D.
-- If you're not consuming enough vitamin D or calcium, you may want to
consider a dietary supplement. The most popular calcium supplements are
calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Look for "USP" on the label to ensure
the supplement meets standards established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia.
-- To get the most out of your calcium supplement, take in doses no larger
than 500 mg. Also be careful not to take with iron supplements, as they may
interfere with each other.
Talk to Your Doctor
-- People who fracture a bone after the age of 50, and women older than
65, should be routinely screened for osteoporosis.
-- Three out of four women age 45 - 75 have never spoken to their
physician about osteoporosis, according to the Foundation for Osteoporosis
Research & Education. Be proactive with your health. Discuss with your
doctor your risk for bone disease, the need for a bone density test, your
calcium and vitamin D intake and your medications.
-- Your doctor may recommend a bone mineral density test to determine your
bone health. This test is quick and painless, and can help determine the rate
of bone loss, detect low bone density and confirm a diagnosis.
-- Though osteoporosis does not have a cure, certain medications can stop
or slow bone loss, and even help build new bone.
Osteoporosis prevention and treatment isn't just about broken bones. It's
about sustaining a strong skeletal structure, preventing disability in your
older years and keeping your body at optimum health.
HealthSaver, an emerging health care discount program, offers savings on
prescriptions, vision care, complementary and alternative health care
treatments, vitamins and supplements by mail and more than 1,500 fitness clubs
nationwide, including select Bally Total Fitness, World Gym and Ladies Workout
Express locations.
About HealthSaver
HealthSaver offers discounts of 20 percent on vision care, as well as
discounts of 10 to 50 percent on prescriptions at participating pharmacies, 20
percent off complementary and alternative health care treatments and fitness
club benefits. HealthSaver also offers discounts of 10 to 35 percent on
dental care services at some 42,000 participating provider locations
nationwide, including routine cleanings, X-rays, fillings, orthodontics, and
even popular cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening. Members
can also save from 5 to 50 percent off vitamins and supplements by mail.
Discounts are based upon reasonable and customary costs or manufacturers
suggested retail price (MSRP) and are only available from participating
providers. HealthSaver is not an insurance product or service. More
information about HealthSaver is available online at www.healthsaver.com or
toll free by calling 1-800-7HEALTH (1-800-743-2584). A one month trial
membership in HealthSaver (www.healthsaver.com or 1-800-743-2584) costs $1 and
can be canceled anytime during the trial period. Unless the member calls to
cancel during the trial, membership will be extended automatically and billed
to a credit card number at the $149.99 annual fee. Members may call toll free
to cancel at any time and receive a refund of the unused portion of their
current year's fee. HealthSaver is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the
membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and
services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.
About Affinion Group, Inc.
As a global leader with nearly 35 years of experience, Affinion Group
(www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships
by developing and marketing valuable loyalty, membership, checking account,
insurance and other compelling products and services. Leveraging its
expertise in product development and targeted marketing, Affinion helps
generate significant incremental revenue for more than 5,300 affinity partners
worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in
financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Norwalk,
Conn., the company has approximately 3,300 employees throughout the United
States and in 10 countries across Europe. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO
27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI
compliant and Cybertrust certified.
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Peggy Fleming
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