Bone: A Slice of Orange - October 2014 - System in focus: The skeletal system

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 10 • OCTOBER 2014

A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health

SYSTEM IN FOCUS: THE SKELETAL SYSTEM • Stand up straight • Brittle bones

System in focus: The skeletal system STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK YOUR BONES, BUT THE FOLLOWING WORDS WILL MAKE THEM HEALTHIER! Bones are what gives us, humans, together with all other vertebrates in the planet, our shape and form. Without our 206 bones, we would probably look like jel-

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lyfishes crawling along pavements. It’s most defining characteristic is its hardness

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imagine that bones can become damaged—unless under the impact of high stress.

compared to the other tissues of the body. And because of its toughness, it is hard to

A SLICE OF ORANGE

U

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 10 • OCTOBER 2014

nfortunately for all of us, time is not

an S or a C, instead of being aligned in a

Certain exercises can help strengthen the

on our side, and years have a way

straight line.

muscles of the back, which can slow down

of slowly chipping away at our

Around a fourth of all scoliosis cases are

the movement of the spinal bones. One ex-

bones. Here, we will examine two medical

inborn or due to muscular disease. However,

ercise that you can do at home to strengthen

conditions that can slowly affect your bones.

the vast majority have no identifiable cause.

your back is as follows:

They say that bones are like a bank: you

Nonetheless, the vertebral bones somehow

save up slowly, because what you do today

begin to shift in alignment, ever so slowly,

1. First, lie on your stomach with your arms

can make all the difference to your bones in

until one day, you just notice that your spine

the future.

is no longer straight.

2. Slowly lift your left foot and knee off the

Because the curvature of the spine starts

floor. At the same time, slowly lift your

Stand up straight

slight, it can take years before the condition

right arm from the floor around 6 inches.

When I was a child, I was surprised that

is diagnosed. Sometimes, instead of notic-

Hold this position for a few seconds.

I encountered the the word “scoliosis” very

ing the curved spine, some people notice

3. Repeat step 2 with the right foot and

often. A friend here, a neighbor there, and

instead that their shoulders or hips are not

a classmate or two, said they had scolio-

level with each other. Others first complain

4. Repeat these steps 15 to 20 times.

sis. Now I understand why—as it turns out,

of back pain at a young age. However, a

scoliosis is quite common: it affects up to

full-length standing spine x-ray is the most re-

Bracing can help slow down scoliosis

3 people in a hundred, which means that

liable way to diagnose scoliosis.

when used in children. However, in adults,

in a typical private school, you can expect

extended, like Superman flying.

left arm.

this is not possible. Nonetheless, some adults

around a hundred students to have or eventu-

Staying healthy

can benefit from some relief of pain when us-

ally develop scoliosis.

ing a correctly fitted brace as advised by a

The goal of treatment for scoliosis is dif-

It is also important to know that scoliosis

ferent for children and adults. In children, the

physician.

starts during late childhood in 85% of the

main goal is to prevent the progression of

time. The rapid growth spurt seems to ag-

the disease. However, in adults, the main

performed to correct the spinal curvature.

gravate the situation.

goals are relief of pain and, if the curvature

What exactly is this common bone condi-

is severe to the point that it compresses on

Brittle bones

tion? Scoliosis is actually a descriptive term

the lungs or impairs daily function, possible

for a spine that curves from side to side, like

correction of the curve.

porosis affects the elderly—55% of them,

If the scoliosis is severe, surgery can be

If scoliosis affects children mostly, osteo-

A SLICE OF ORANGE

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 10 • OCTOBER 2014

in fact. This means that, if the fates allow,

• Exercise, especially resistance training

we reach old age, 55% of us will develop

(e.g., weight lifting, resistance bands,

osteoporosis, mostly the women.

isometric exercises, etc.)—if you don’t

Osteoporosis is a slowly progressing

use it, you lose it;

bone disease that is characterized by the

• Diet rich in calcium (dairy products, sar-

bones becoming less and less compact. This

dines including the bones, dark leafy veg-

makes bones easier to fracture. The bone

etables such as spinach) and protein

loss is usually age-related, but some diseas-

(meats, eggs, dairy, soy products, legumes)

es and medications may also increase the

• At least 5 minutes of sunlight exposure

risk of osteoporosis. The implicated diseases

(preferable in the early morning) to stimu-

include thyroid disease, diabetes, other en-

late the body’s vitamin D production;

docrine diseases, malnutrition, some gastro-

• Cigarette cessation; and

intestinal diseases, lactose intolerance, liver

Staying healthy

• Alcohol moderation.

disease, bulimia, kidney diease, and alco-

If osteoporosis is a disease of the elderly,

holism. Concerned drugs include steroids

why is it important to talk about it now? Be-

Because menopause seems to play a

and anticonvulsants, thyroid hormone, anti-

cause your bone health in the future is de-

role in osteoporosis, hormone replacement

coagulants, and some cancer drugs.

termined by what you do today. If you wait

therapy (HRT) may be used by some wom-

In itself, osteoporosis does not cause

until you have osteoporosis before you do

en. However, HRT also has its own risks, so

symptoms. However, everything goes down-

something (whether it be in your diet, exer-

it is important to consult a physician to know

hill as soon as the first fracture occurs. The

cise, or supplements), it’s already too late.

if HRT is right for you.

fact that almost all people with osteoporosis

Instead, what you should do is to make sure

are elderly makes them at high risk of falling,

your bones are as dense as possible today,

of falls in the elderly in your household.

which is the usual cause of their fractures.

so that even if age-related bone loss occurs,

Remove obstacles, loose carpets, or other

Elderly people may have poor eyesight, bal-

you are still left with a significant amount,

things that the elderly might trip on. Ensure

ance problems, poor muscle strength, de-

making your bones less likely to fracture.

that your bathroom has non-slip mats. And

mentia and memory disorders—conditions

advise them to avoid climbing, and walking

that increase the risk of falls.

teoporosis later are:

Things you should do now to prevent os-

Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits?

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The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.

Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2014 ActiveLink

Benefits Made Better

ActiveLink 7/F Electra House Building 115-117 Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City www.activelinkbenefits.com

Lastly, it is important to minimize the risk

on slippery floors.

A Slice of Orange

is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.

Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD