Bone Health Support

The health of the bones is a very important factor that one must take into account, medical research says. Regardless of age and gender, healthy bones are necessary to ensure a healthy body. In fact, many different medical studies are being developed in order to know more about how one can have healthy bones. Recently, the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) commented about the latest osteoporosis study made by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Result from the osteoporosis study has made osteoporosis testing unnecessary once every two years.The NEJM showed that osteoporosis may develop in a very slow pace that testing for it is not helpful the way one thinks it is. However, as was highlighted by the NBHA, in order to protect those who are afflicted of osteoporosis, the results of the stud should be carefully assessed.

Many issues may come and go for the bones. Osteoporosis is just one of the examples. To prevent issues from appearing is to ensure the health of our bones. There are many ways in order for one to support his/her bone health. Here’s a list:

Calcium

Calcium is very well-known element that is good for the bones. There are many ways for one to get an adequate supply of this. Dark leafy vegetables and milk are good sources of calcium. Moreover, you can always check the label in order to know if the product is rich in calcium.

Exercise

To maintain and improve our health, activities that require physical effort must be carried out. There are different exercises one can take in which can be good for one’s bone health like jogging, swimming, dancing, and yoga. Depending upon your body type, you may need to exercise for half an hour to an hour.

Medical Check-Up

There is only one way of knowing if you are at risk of any kinds of bone disease: this is by going to a doctor. The doctor may perform exams in order to check the health of your bones. In this way, proper advice may be possible like giving medical prescriptions. As for osteoporosis, Fosamax has been famous as a preventive medicine. However, reports show that this is not the best medicine as far as lawsuits filed against the drug are concern.

This list is only part of the things you can do. There are still more and you might one to explore on that. However, you must always be careful and avoid things like Fosamax femur fractures from happening.

More Evidence Linking Fosamax to Bone Fractures

The New England Journal of Medicine has recently published a study which showed that the safety in the long term use of bisphosphonate drugs, like Fosamax, for osteoporosis treatment may be in question.The study suggested that in two separate case theories there has been a link between prolonged bisphosphonate therapy and atypical fractures.There was one study which showed a number patients sustained low-energy non-vertebral fractures while receiving long-term alendronate therapy; three were fractures of the femoral shaft.

Also the study showed that bone biopsies in the patients showed evidence of severely suppressed bone turnover and fracture healing that was delayed or not there at all.Fosamax is actually suppress bone turnover and thus might be associated with accumulated micro-damage in bone in theory.

In the published study the editor states: “To our knowledge, no study has demonstrated microdamage accumulation in patients treated with bisphosphonates, and data from studies in animals remain difficult to interpret because supranormal doses of bisphosphonates are used. Nevertheless, the possibility that bisphosphonates alter bone strength with prolonged use appears to exist.”

The length of Fosamax use seems to be a factor that the study takes into account.The results of the study concluded that the patients who have been on Fosamax for an average time longer than five years were 37% more likely to suffer from atypical fractures than patients who have been on the drug for less time

Fosamax lawsuit plaintiffs may want to take notice of the results of this this study as it may provide the link between Fosamax and bone fractures they have been looking for.As Merck and the FDA has both gone on record stating that more information is needed to link Fosamax to these types of bone fractures.

However the conclusion of the researchers have also stated that they need more information to definitely link Fosamax to atypical bone fractures.In conclusion the editor of the study states: “In light of the limitations of our study, a prospective study is indicated. Although many possible explanations exist, patients with the unique radiographic pattern shown here may represent a subgroup of the population that is more susceptible to the effects of prolonged suppression of bone turnover. Additional studies are needed to characterize this subgroup and to establish a clear association between atypical fractures of the femur and prolonged bisphosphonate treatment.”

URL References:

nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0707493

health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080319/fosamax-linked-to-unusual-femur-fractures.htm

Fosamax Warning Labels Changed on Back of Online Publications

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently updated its public information which it had previously communicated describing the risk of atypical fractures of the thigh, known as subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femur fractures also commonly known as Fosamax femur fractures, in patients who take Fosamax for osteoporosis.All of the information which was made public will also be added to the Warnings and Precautions section of the labels of all bisphosphonate drugs approved for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.

There was also a recent new task force which reported on all bisphosphonates, just like Fosamax, and an association with atypical femur fractures in osteoporosis patients has caused the FDA to reconsider requiring drug companies like Merck to make a label change to increase the warning about this rare but serious side effect.

On September 14, 2010 the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published and online article titled "Atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femoral fractures: Report of a task force of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research".In summary, the task force reviewed 310 cases of "atypical or low-impact femur fractures," and found that 94 percent (291) of patients had taken Fosamax, for more than five years.

Similarly another online article also published on September 14, 2010 titled "FDA Statement on ASBMR report: Possible Increased Risk of Certain Types of Thigh Bone Fractures with Long-Term Bisphosphonates Use", states that the FDA may want to urge companies like Merck to change the warning labels on drugs like Fosamax.

This article made many physicians who would prescribe their patients Fosamax able to advise about the possibility of atypical femoral fractures and of the potential for bilaterality through a change in labeling of Fosamax.

Fosamax is a drug designed to help with bone loss due to several diseases like osteoporosis.However, the recent findings of several online publications have shown that Fosamax can actually cause atypical femur fractures.These findings of both the online publications and the task force has led the FDA to call for a change in the warning labels on Fosamax.To those who have suffered a low-impact bone fracture that has been caused by Fosamax use a consultation with a healthcare professional should be done as soon as possible.

URL References:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm203891.htm
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0707493

Adverse Events Resulting from Fosamax Use

Even the biggest pharmaceutical corporations in the world like Merck & Co.also have their share of hard times. What’s in the news is that Merck & Co.is suspected of Illegal Marketing Practices with regard to some of its drugs. However, what really puts the company in a bad position is the several complaints from users about the adverse reactions caused by Fosamax, one of its biggest selling drugs.

In any given, Fosamax could be written in over 20 million prescriptions. Many have known this drug as alendronate, which is its generic form, and as the drug of choice for specific bone diseases like osteoporosis and Paget’s disease (osteitis deformans). It makes your bones strong by altering the cycle of bone remodeling particularly and prevent bone resorption.

However, there are mounting reports about the adverse effects that could result from the long term use of the drug. The most commonly reported cases were osteonecrosis of the jaw bone and an atypical fracture of the thigh bone. Moreover, the pharmaceutical company seemingly lacked the proper disclosure of the said hazards causing a number of its patronizers to take legal actions.

Around 2003 when one of the earliest Fosamax-related cases of ONJ was brought to the public. ONJ, also known by some as Bis-Phossy Jaw, is a serious bone disease where a bone tissue of the jawbone dies (necrotizes) due to inadequate supply of nutrition or blood. ONJ may present symptoms like pain upon chewing a gum and it usually detected during a dental check. 

On the other hand, a specific type of fracture has also been associated to the prolonged use of the drug. It was noted in large studies that women taking bisphosphonate drugs, a drug classification which includes Fosamax, have incurred a low-impact femur fracture. Yet, this repercussion Is considered uncommon and that the beneficial effects of the drug still supersedes.

So that the risks of these complications are reduced, some health care providers have decided to order Fosamax on a shorter duration. In most cases, they will tell their patients to temporarily hold Fosamax and other bisphosphonate drugs after 3 years of drug therapy. While the adverse and other side effects of Fosamax are alarming, the benefits of the drug still outweigh the associated risks. Talk to your doctor to know if the drug is right for you.

What Is Paget’s Disease And Why Is Fosamax The Treatment?

With the controversies of Fosamax still ringing in the ears of many, more people, even men are filing Fosamax femur fracture lawsuits. This medication is said to cause several adverse effects after a long-term use. The widely known osteoporosis medication is also approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat this often overlooked bone disorder known as Paget’s disease.

Our bones go through a life-long process where mature bone tissues breakdown and are replaced with new bone tissues. With Paget’s disease of the bone, the breakdown and remodeling of the bone tissues becomes too excessive. The result of the process is misshapen, exaggerated but brittle and highly vascular bones.

Although the cause of Paget’s disease is unknown it is believed that it might be linked to the genetic composition or a viral infection in early life. The disease may only be in one or two areas of the skeleton, or throughout the body. The bones of the arm, the collar, the leg, the pelvis and the spine are the areas usually affected with the disease.

Most of the time, patients with Paget’s disease have mild or no symptoms at all. Often, symptoms are attributed with arthritis or other disorders. Symptoms may include:

• Bone pain – the most common symptom and usually occurs on the affected bone or the areas adjacent to the joints
• Enlarged head, headache and hearing loss especially if the skull is affected
• Bowing of the legs and other visible deformities
• Fracture especially on the long bones
• Joint pain or stiffness
• Neck pain
• Warmth of skin over the affected bone

Some cases do not need treatment. Most patients that are treated, however, are given drug therapy to help prevent further bone breakdown. Biphosphonates like Fosamax are presently the first-line of defense to help improve bone mineral density.

When treatment is given before major changes in the affected bones have occurred, the outlook is generally good. Possible complications of the disorder include bone deformities and fractures, deafness, paraplegia (paralysis of the lower extremities), and in rare occasions, a form of bone cancer known as osteogenic osteogenic sarcoma.

Fosamax is the drug of choice for Paget’s disease. Nonetheless, this drug should only be taken with your physician’s order to avoid any adverse events. Furthermore, if you suffered any harm due to long-term consumption of Fosamax, you may have a strong ground for filing a Fosamax lawsuit.

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Bad Effect Of Smoking Include Susceptibility To Bone Fracture

Bone fracture occurs when an extreme outside force applied to the bone exceeds the bone's capacity to sustain such a force. There are various factors which has been linked to an increased risk for bone breakage which has been studied and researched for ages. These factors may vary among distinct populations and under certain conditions that is why for more information regarding health issues afflicting you or your loved one, the best source of information is still a licensed and efficient physician. Nevertheless, one of the factors that increases the risk for bone fracture that has been an unhealthy fad popularized by the media and peer pressure is: cigarette smoking.

The youth are easily influenced by what the adults do, that is why it is important to start engraving into their minds that the bad habit of smoking cigarettes practiced by the older people should not be followed. Fracture is a common incident among old people because their bones are not as strong as they used to. The non-modifiable factors of bone breakage are: family history, genetics, culture, bone degenerating disease process such as osteoporosis, age, and sex.  Changes in lifestyle, smoking habits, alcohol intake, stress, bisphosphonate and glucocorticoid drug intake, diet, weight are some of the noted dependent factors for fracture susceptibility.

It has been a long time since precautions regarding smoking's bad effects to the body was first released to the public. Bone's calcium absorption is impaired by cigarette smoking. Calcium is a vital mineral stored and utilized by the bone. As expected, if the bone cannot absorb enough calcium, its bone mineral density is diminished. This is the reason why smoking is bad because it impairs our bones strength.

Easily fractured bones are also seen in most of the osteoporosis patients. There is a bisphosphonate drug usually prescribed by doctors which is Fosamax. Still, reports were received professing about the drugs bad effects to those who were using the drug for a long time. If you or your loved one suffered from atypical, low-impact femur fracture, you can talk to a reliable Fosamax lawyer who will guide you in filing a Fosamax Fracture Lawsuit for you and your family to gain just compensation.

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Osteoporosis Treatments: The Good and Bad

Osteoporosis is a bone disease marked with a deteriorating bone complex leading to a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) of about 2.5 standards deviation DXA which causes the “porous” characteristic of the bone. The bone becomes brittle and is highly susceptible to fracture. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is commonly seen in aging, menopausal women, but men reaching the age of 75 sometimes get senile osteoporosis too. The combined aging population of osteoporosis-susceptible individuals is alarming, but the increased risk for bone fractures, a marked feature in osteoporosis, gave this disease a more sinister touch. Treatments for osteoporosis involve a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

Lifestyle changes includes exercise, proper diet of green, leafy vegetables, and prevention of fracture occurrence. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking flights of stairs frequently may help strengthen the bones. Some simple exercise such as squatting can also do the trick, as a prevention and as a strengthening regimen. Diet high in calcium and vitamin D, along with calcium and vitamin D supplements, may also prevent osteoporosis and also treat it if prevention was not done. Calcium is known for its bone healing, bone strengthening and bone formation qualities. Vitamin D, on the other hand, may come in supplement form, but the increased risk in kidney stone formation may opt you to take vitamin way the natural way: that is, by basking in the mild sunlight of early morning until 8-9 am. Vitamin D has shown to decrease risk of bone fractures in aging people who has osteoporosis by increasing about 1% of their bone density. Another vitamin showing promise for bone strengthen and decreasing risk for fracture is Vitamin K. This also comes in supplement forms, but natural sources of vitamin K are found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and mustard greens. Fracture prevention includes side-rails on bed and hand rails on comfort rooms; refrain from putting skid mats outside the comfort rooms, doorway or stairways; and have your room transferred on the ground floor to decrease risk of sliding off the stairs.

Although there are lifestyle changes for osteoporosis, medication also aids in subduing bone degeneration normally seen in senility. One of the commonly used drug is bisphosphonates. The biphosphonate, Alendronate Sodium (Fosamax) is commonly used as a first-line treatment for women with menopausal osteoporosis. Although the drug caused bone empowerment in the first 4 years of Fosamax use, new studies published in the 2011 February issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that long-term use of Fosamax in five years period may cause Fosamax users to suffer from bone breakage. Many claims arose regarding Fosamax's link with atypical, low-impact femur fractures experience by Fosamax users. This issue is an additional burden for Fosamax's manufacturer, Merck, who is already bombarded with ONJ lawsuits and other Fosamax side effects ailing the consumers.

Notwithstanding the easily accessible and attainable lifestyle changes, medication is needed for osteoporosis treatment. But you must be sure to take medication for osteoporosis treatment to aid in fracture prevention, not worsen your condition and cause atypical, low-impact femur fracture instead. If you or your loved one suffered from femur fracture due to Fosamax use, you may want to talk to a reliable and effective Fosamax lawyer to help you get your Fosamax fracture lawsuit into motion. Visit the Fosamax femur fracture lawsuit site for more information.