Bone Health Clinic
According to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF), approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and 44 million have low bone density. Half of all American adults aged 50 and older are at risk for fractures and should be attentive to bone health. 50% of women and 25% of men will break a bone sometime during adult life due to low bone density and osteoporosis. While osteoporosis is not a curable condition, there are proactive ways to treat, manage and prevent it.
Meet Your Bone Health Specialists
AJ Mencias, MD
William Warrender, MD
Jennie Gibson, PA-C
Molly Pestow, PA-C
So, what is osteoporosis and why is SBO concerned about bone health?
Osteoporosis literally means “porous bone.” A healthy bone is strong, dense, and solid. However, an osteoporotic bone resembles the look of Swiss cheese; full of holes and weak points, which in turn drastically increases the likelihood of fractures.
SBO is concerned with treating the WHOLE patient and preventing fractures before they occur. If fractures have already occurred, it is important to us that we provide our patients with the best education and treatment to prevent future fractures and optimize bone health. With these things in mind, two SBO providers, Molly Pestow FNP- PA-C and Jennie Gibson, MSM, PA-C, with the support of SBO president, Dr. AJ Mencias, decided to develop what is now the SBO Bone Health Clinic.
Pestow says, “While osteoporosis isn’t really something that can be cured, we can definitely improve it and turn back the hands of time. That’s what we’re hoping to do with our Bone Health Clinic. We can improve it with medication, lifestyle changes, supplements, and just diet in general.”
Gibson says, “During our lives, our bodies reabsorb old bone and create new bone, and when there’s a healthy balance between those two, we are healthy and strong. When we age, our bodies don’t make new bone as much as we reabsorb the old bone, which can cause weakness and fractures. Our goal is to try and help maintain that healthy balance between the two.”
Gibson goes on to explain that the risk factors for developing osteoporosis can be traced even back to early childhood if our diets are poor in calcium and vitamin D. Osteoporosis cannot be cured, but maintaining a diet rich in bone-healthy foods is the best way to prevent the condition from occurring.
Women are at a higher risk than men to develop osteoporosis, particularly after menopause. The decrease in estrogen after menopause causes a significant loss in bone density. According to the BHOF, the incidence of bone fractures in women due to osteoporosis is higher than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined. According to BHOF, “Osteoporosis is responsible for an estimated two million broken bones per year, yet nearly 80 percent of older Americans who suffer bone breaks are not tested or treated for osteoporosis.”
By extending the service of Bone Health to our patients, SBO hopes not only to provide better care for the community, but also create a heightened awareness of just how common osteoporosis is. By catching the disease in early stages or even before it develops, the likelihood of future fractures occurring decreases dramatically.
The best way to determine the current health of your bones is by getting something called a DEXA scan. A DEXA scan is akin to an Xray, and its function is to determine your bone density. SBO is currently able to schedule a DEXA scan for our bone health clinic patients.
Bone Health Clinic Hours
The SBO Bone Health Clinic is currently open two days a week, with plans to expand the days and hours of operation as our Bone Health services grow. You can easily schedule an appointment with the Bone Health clinic with any member of our registration team members. Expect your first appointment to be a conversation about your family history, possible risk factors and a discussion about your current nutrition. Every patient’s needs are unique, and we are excited to offer this comprehensive element to optimize the health of the whole patient.
Prioritize Your Bone Health Today. We’re dedicated to ensuring your bones stay strong and healthy. Don’t wait until it’s too late – take action now to safeguard your future mobility and well-being. Contact us at 574-247-9441 today to learn more!