Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a serious health issue that often develops silently and with few noticeable symptoms until it has progressed enough to cause significant damage, such as broken bones. Bone tissue is a complex living structure that gives your body its shape, provides support for your muscles, protects your organs and internal structures and stores various minerals. Bone tissue is lost and restored every day, but in some, the rate of bone loss becomes faster than the rate at which it is restored. Bones become thin, porous and brittle over time and may break even after a minor bump or jostle. Our pharmacy in the Westlake Village area offers treatments that can help you keep your bones healthy and strong.
Often called the silent disease, osteoporosis can have some symptoms that get more noticeable over time. You may develop chronic pain in your back or ribs, lose height and develop a hunched back. You may also be prone to fracturing small bones in your wrists, arms and spine or larger bones in your hips, ribs and pelvis. These breaks can be debilitating and disfiguring, and the pain can be severe. About half of women who experience hip fractures due to brittle bones will become permanently disabled, and a substantial minority will need long-term care. One out of five people who suffer from a hip fracture will die within a year due to associated complications. Our pharmacist in the Westlake Village area can help you learn more about your treatment options.
Brittle, thinning bones are extremely common and affect about 25 million Americans. While elderly Caucasian and Asian women with thin, small frames tend to be at the highest risk, osteoporosis can affect people of all ages and ethnicities, and minorities tend to have the highest mortality rate. Age and menopause are among the biggest risk factors, but you may also be at a higher-than-average risk if you smoke, if you no longer have a period due to extreme dieting, if you have a family history of the condition, if you are sedentary and if you have a diet that is low in calcium and vitamin D. Our Westlake Village pharmacy services offer extensive treatment options and will work with your doctor to find the best one for you. We deliver throughout the Westlake Village and Los Angeles area. Give us a call today to find out more.
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