In the public health world, there are three types of prevention: primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary prevention is keeping the disease of osteoporosis from getting started. The steps for primary prevention of osteoporosis are 1) getting enough calcium in your diet, 2) including vitamin D in your regime and 3) doing weight-bearing exercise.
Secondary Prevention
Secondary prevention deals with the early onset of a negative health outcome. In other words, you have the disease and want to prevent something bad from happening as a result. In the case of osteoporosis, the “bad” or negative health outcome is a fracture.
Many people refer to osteoporosis as the “silent thief” because oftentimes people are not aware that they have osteoporosis until they break a bone. Once an individual breaks a bone without significant trauma, they are at high risk of another fracture.
So how would you implement secondary prevention of osteoporosis?
Get a bone density test!
Currently, this is the only way that you can determine that you have osteoporosis prior to breaking a bone. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers this test once every 24 months (or more often if medically necessary) if you meet one of more of these conditions:
- You’re a woman whose doctor determines you’re estrogen deficient and at risk for osteoporosis, based on your medical history and other findings.
- Your X-rays show possible osteoporosis, osteopenia, or vertebral fractures.
- You’re taking prednisone or steroid-type drugs or are planning to begin this treatment.
- You’ve been diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism.
- You’re being monitored to see if your osteoporosis drug therapy is working.
A great way to find out about factors that could put you at risk for a fracture is to go to the American Bone Health Fracture Risk Calculator™.
In addition to getting diagnosed, you definitely want to continue your intake of calcium and vitamin D and keep exercising!
Posted: 12/11/2011; Last revised: 07/29/21.
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