Boosters of New Mexico. “People are
terrified,” says Marge Peterson, 77, a
retired teacher from Las Cruces who
started the group. “They’ve seen
so much negative publicity and mis-
information online or have been
scared by other people about side ef-
fects.” In fact, the number of Ameri-
cans using bisphosphonates dropped
more than 50 percent between 2008
and 2012, a National Institutes of
Health study reported.
There are certainly side effects:
bone, joint, and muscle pain; nausea;
heartburn; and gastric ulcers. More
rarely, the drugs can lead to an ero-
sion of the jawbone; one in 10,000
patients may experience a thighbone
fracture too. But the risks, says Andrea
Singer, MD, chief medical officer of
the NOF, “are very low, far lower than
the risk for a fracture in untreated os-
teoporosis.” Your doctor might recom-
mend periodic drug holidays or trying
alternative medications.
Some of the newer treatments show
great promise. A game-changing 2018
study of 2,000 women with osteopenia
found that the bisphosphonate zole-
dronate (Reclast) reduced the risk of
a fracture by about one third. Raloxi-
fene (Evista) and denosumab (Prolia)
are alternatives to bisphosphonates
that also help slow the breakdown of
bone. Teriparatide (Forteo) and aba-
loparatide (Tymlos), the latest osteo-
porosis medications to be approved
by the FDA, work differently; they ac-
tually help build new bone.Even a Little Exercise Helps
High-impact exercises such as danc-
ing, jogging, and jumping rope help
keep bones strong, but so does walk-
ing or using an elliptical machine or
stair-stepper. Muscle-strengthening
moves work, too, as can yoga.
People with osteoporosis used to
be warned against high-impact ex-
ercise because of the risk of falls and
fractures. But a 2017 study found that
only 30 minutes twice a week of high-
intensity exercise improved bone den-
sity, structure, and strength in post-
menopausal women with low bone
mass, without adverse effects. And a
recent review found that combining
exercise with bone-building drugs
works better than either strategy alone
to boost bone density in people with
osteoporosis. Want to avoid breaking a
bone? One of the best things you can
do is go break a sweat.Change That Tune
I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas.
I’m frightened of the old ones.
john cagerd.com 97Health