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The Importance of Strong Bones
During
their lifetime, 1 in 3 women will break their hip bones.
This is preventable. The health of your bones can be
evaluated with a urine test. Empower yourself with
information about your bones that will make a difference
with intelligent choices. A case in point: A woman in
her fifties showed significant bone loss on both an
x-ray and the urine test. A postmenopausal salivary
hormone test was given to her, she was found deficient
in 3 hormones. Her doctor gave her a balanced hormone
treatment. Nine months later her bone urine test became
normal.
What is Bone Aging?
Bone turnover is a process that continues to take place
throughout our lifetime. It is a delicate balance
between bone formation and breakdown. In childhood and
early adulthood, the process is strongly in favor of
bone formation and this continues up to the age of 30-40
years; after which the balance starts to tilt to bone
breakdown. This results in the gradual thinning of bone
with age, or osteoporosis. Around the onset of
menopause, bone turnover tilts in favor of bone
breakdown. This is due to the persistent imbalance or
decline in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormone
levels.
How is it related to
Menopause?
During cycling years most women have enough ovarian
output of progesterone and estrogen. These two hormones
promote bone growth. Around the mid-forties (usually 3-4
years before the cessation of menstruation) the levels
of estrogen and progesterone start to gradually drop
off, thus accelerating bone dissolution. In men, the
drop of testosterone can lead to a similar picture. Men
convert testosterone into estrogen, therefore a decrease
in testosterone can reduce estrogen levels.
Does it affect my Health?
Yes, it does. Bone aging leads to a disease called
osteoporosis that results in bone thinning and, more
importantly, bone fragility. Osteoporosis can affect you
and your loved ones in several ways: 1.) Middle-aged and
elderly people lose a few inches of their height due to
osteoporosis. 2.) Many seniors are prone to hip
fractures secondary to osteoporosis. 3.) 1.5 million
bony fractures-at various body sites occur annually
secondary to osteoporosis
Am I at risk for
Osteoporosis?
Your risk for osteoporosis increases with: -Age
-Sedentary life-style -Non-black skin color -Smoking
-Alcohol consumption -Family history of osteoporosis
-Around the time of menopause ...and when your doctor
says that you have: -Thyroid disease -Diabetes -Adrenal
impairment -Kidney disease -Rheumatoid arthritis If you
are at a high risk for developing osteoporosis, your
physician has different measures and options to
objectively assess your risks, and these include: -Bone
density measurement: employs radioactive or x-ray
sources to measure your bone strength and mineral
content. -Urine testing: employs one random urinary
specimen to assess the rate of bone breakdown in your
body.
What does your lab offer me?
We are offering you a urine test to assess for bone
breakdown. The test is called Pyrilinks-D (Dpd).We can
also measure your estrogen, progesterone, & four other
hormone levels from a saliva specimen.
How to use this
test:
Your doctor can use the Pyrilinks-D urine test to:
screen for osteoporosis in conjunction with bone
densitometry as as a follow-up test to monitor the bone
response in Hormone Replacement Therapy and/or
osteoporosis treatment protocols Monitoring Hormone
Replacement Therapy through our lab also includes:
salivary hormone measurement-Estradiol, Estrone, Estriol,
Progesterone, DHEA, and Testosterone-all from one
salivary sample (PHP-1).
Who Needs the Dpd Bone
Marker?
To determine if the Dpd Bone Marker is appropriate for
your health problems and concerns, consult with your
health professional.
Common Applications of this Panel:
· Individuals over 40 years of age
· Women around menopause
· People with non-black skin color
· Non-active persons- people with sedentary life-styles
· Smokers
· People with a family history of osteoporosis
· Individuals who have diabetes, kidney disease, adrenal
impairment or rhuematoid
· arthritis.
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