How to Avoid the “Widow’s Hump”

It used to be called a “widow’s hump.” Some people think it is just poor posture. But the real cause of the stooped back in many elderly women and even some elderly men is a disease called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, which is caused by thinning of the bones, is not just disfiguring, it can be debilitating and sometimes even painful, leading to hip, spine and other fractures that can incapacitate. One in five people who suffer a hip fracture will end up in a nursing home within the following year. In addition, twenty percent of senior citizens who have a hip fracture will die within that year.

Osteoporosis is a big problem in the United States. According to the Surgeon General’s 2004 report on “Bone Health and Osteoporosis,” this disease affects about 10 million Americans over the age of 50, and leads to a broken bone in one out of every two women in the same age group. Another 33.6 million people have osteopenia, bone-thinning which is not yet severe enough to be called osteoporosis, but which can lead to osteoporosis and can also cause broken bones.

Who will get osteoporosis? The disease is more common in women, although men can get it. The occurrence also increases with age, especially after menopause. Other risk factors include a personal history of broken bones, family history of osteoporosis, low body weight, alcoholism, Caucasian, Hispanic or Asian background, and smoking. In addition, people who use steroids for long periods of time to treat certain diseases, such as arthritis, are also at risk.

The life expectancy of Americans continues to increase, and as it does, it is important to stay healthy as we grow older. In order to do this, women need to prevent osteoporosis. How can you protect yourself? First line prevention of osteoporosis consists of adequate calcium and vitamin D in your diet. The National Institute of Health has recommended that all pre-menopausal women should get about 1000 mg of calcium a day. Any post-menopausal woman should get at least 1500 mg of calcium a day. Calcium is found in a number of foods, including dark green vegetables such as spinach and in dairy products. About 300 mg of calcium is found in an 8 ounces of milk, 16 ounces of cottage cheese or 1 ounce of hard cheese. Most women do not get enough calcium in their diet to meet the above recommendation, so calcium supplements are available at most drugstores and supermarkets. No more than 2000 mg of calcium should be consumed per day, and people with certain health conditions should not take calcium supplements. In addition, calcium can interfere with the absorption of certain medications and iron, so talk to your doctor about whether you should be taking calcium and when to take it.

In addition to prevention, it is important to be screened for osteopenia and osteoporosis as you get older so that the disease can be caught early and treated. There are several effective medications for osteoporosis, and if treated early, the risk of broken bones can decrease. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular screening for all women over the age 65. Medicare will pay for a screening every two years. Women between the ages of 60 and 64 who have one or more risk factors may also need to be screened. Most screening consists of a special type of x-ray that measures bone mineral density. It is painless and takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. This x-ray is offered at Parkland Medical Center. If you are an older female and have suffered a broken bone with little trauma, you may also have osteoporosis and should speak with your doctor.