Osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens the bones. Weakened bones are more likely to break (fracture). Osteoporosis affects both men and women, but postmenopausal women are most at risk. To help prevent osteoporosis, you need to exercise and nourish your bones throughout your life.
How do you prevent osteoporosis?
Your body needs calcium to build and repair bones. But it can't make calcium on it's own. Eating calcium-rich foods like low-fat plain yogurt, cheddar cheese, low-fat or nonfat milk, salmon, cooked white beans, kale, collards, or even oranges can help meet your calcium needs. Be careful to check the serving sizes on your foods. But if you can't get enough, you may want to take calcium supplements.
Certain factors can speed up bone loss or decrease bone growth. For example, alcohol, cigarettes, and certain medicines reduce bone mass. Some foods make it hard for your body to absorb calcium.
We also recommend exercise to strengthen your bones, and prevent falls and injury that can affect your bones. Regular exercise like swimming, walking and weight training are great options.
Screening for Osteoporosis:
A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your bone health. This non-invasive, painless test determines normal bone density, low bone density (osteopenia), or osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends testing in all women 65 years and older, and all men 70 years and older. It is also recommended in postmenopausasl women younger than 65 years, and anyone who have risk factors for low bone mass.
Bone mineral density tests may need to be repeated every two years depending on your medical history and other risk factors. Visiting the doctor regularly for preventive care screenings is an important part of staying healthy. But sometimes it’s difficult to schedule these screenings in a timely manner. Call your care manager to see if in-home bone mineral density screenings are available to you:
- The screening is offered at no cost to you.
- It's convenient--a health care professional will come to your home to conduct the bone mineral density heel scan. It will last 15 minutes.
- The screening is valuable. We'll share the results with you and your doctor to support your current care.
- If your test indicates low bone density, your doctor may recommend weight-bearing exercises or prescribe a medication to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
Get screened today!
Contact our Care Management Team at 1-877-878-8785 and select option 2, to learn about this resource.
Additional Resources
Reducing your risk for fractures
The most common fracture sites in people with osteoporosis are the wrist, spine, and hip. These fractures are often caused by accidents and falls. All fractures are painful and may limit what you can do. But hip fractures are very serious. They often need surgery, and it can take months to recover. To reduce your risk for fractures:
- Get regular exercise: walking, swimming or weight training are great options.
- Eat foods rich in calcium, or take a calcium supplement.
- Make your home safe to help avoid accidents.
- Take extra precautions not to fall in risky areas, such as icy sidewalks.
Based on HEDIS guidelines women ages 67-85 who suffered a fracture should have a BMD test (in the past two years) or prescription for a drug to treat osteoporosis in the six months after the fracture.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call your doctor or the customer service number on the back of your ID card.
Recommended Daily Calcium Needs:
| Age | Calcium |
| 14 - 18 years old | 1,300 mg |
| 19 - 30 years old | 1,000 mg |
| 31 - 50 years old | 1,000 mg |
| 51 - 70 years old, women | 1,200 mg |
| 51 - 70 years old, men | 1,000 mg |
Related Health Topics
Contact Our Health Management Team
Speak with a care manager today! Call 1-877-878-8785, option 2.
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