The Henry Mayo Fitness Center is partnering with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s physical therapy department to create an Osteoporosis Day on July 11 to promote the prevention of the bone condition.
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Dr. Myra Stewart, physical therapist at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, talked to KHTS about osteoporosis, including what the condition is, how to prevent it, and an event Henry Mayo is putting on to help combat it.
“Osteoporosis is a condition that the bone density, or the strength of the bone, begins to reduce beyond the normal ranges and can lead to fragile bones, and then of course, fractures,” Dr. Stewart said.
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Osteoporosis affects 57 million Americans, and is most common in the back and hip bones. Stewart recommended for people to start talking to their doctors about osteoporosis between the ages of 45 and 60.
Stewart also mentioned that some groups are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis than others.
“If you are female, you’re going to be more prone to osteoporosis because of menopause and the reduction of hormones within the body, which affects bone mass,” Stewart said. “So as a female, especially if you are very thin or have very a low BMI (Body Mass Index). And anyone of Asian or Caucasian descent tend to be more prone to it.”
An important area of treatment for osteoporosis, like any medical condition, is prevention of the actual condition.
“One of the most important things is a good diet,” Stewart said. ‘You want to make sure you get plenty of calcium, and then also Vitamin D, because Vitamin D helps your bones absorb the calcium so that they’re nice and strong.”
Stewart also urged people to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
“I know a lot of us like to sit behind our computers,” she said. “It’s really hard to get up and move around. But you want to make sure you’re doing weight-bearing activities.”
In order to help promote the prevention and maintenance of osteoporosis, an Osteoporosis Day event is scheduled to take place July 11 at the Education Center at Henry Mayo Fitness and Health, located at 24525 Town Center Drive.
“We’re going to be doing bone-density scans, bone composition, and I’m going to be doing a bit of a lecture for you so you can better understand osteoporosis,” Stewart said. “We’re also going to be giving free tours of the new facility.”
The event is free to the public, but seating is limited. To make a reservation for the event, call (661) 200-1311, or visit the website here.
Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Community Spotlight based on a recent radio interview with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is a 238-bed, not-for-profit community hospital and trauma center in Santa Clarita. The Henry Mayo Hospital emergency department is open 24-7 to provide critical life-saving services, with a panel of physicians available around the clock for critical healthcare needs. In addition, a number of specialized care services are also available, including a maternity department, community hospital cancer program, advanced primary stroke center, spine and joint program, acute rehab unit, cardiology services, outpatient wound care, physical and occupational therapies and a wide range of surgical services.
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