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The Surgeon General's report offers prescription for good bone health
U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona issued his first-ever report on bone health. In it he stressed the importance of early diagnosis of bone diseases, such as Paget's disease. According to Carmona, “Early identification of such diseases is critical, since treatment at an early stage can often be highly effective.”
The Surgeon General's report also states that Americans can do a lot more to make sure they maintain healthy bones — and that it's never too late to improve bone health. "...older individuals with poor bone health can improve their bone health status through appropriate exercise, and calcium and vitamin D intake," Carmona wrote.
The Surgeon General has this simple prescription for taking good care of your bones:
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 Get the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D. High levels of calcium can be found in milk, leafy green vegetables, soybeans, yogurt and cheese. Vitamin D is produced in the skin by exposure to the sun and is found in fortified milk and other foods.
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Talk to your doctor about taking calcium supplements if you're not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Adults should receive between 1,000 and 1,500 milligrams (mg). (The higher amount is recommended for postmenopausal women not taking estrogen and all adults 65 years or older.) Since an 8-ounce glass of low-fat (1%) milk contains about 300 mg of calcium, most adults would need to drink about three-and-a-half glasses or more every day to reach that recommendation.
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Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active at least 30 minutes a day. Include weight-bearing activities to improve strength and balance. (Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen.)
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Take steps to reduce the risks of falling by removing items that may cause you to trip and improve lighting in your home. Get routine vision tests, and regularly exercise to improve your balance and coordination.
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To learn more about improving your bone health, click here to view The 2004 Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What It Means to You. The free booklet is also available by calling toll free 1-866-718-BONE (2663).
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 | | Paget's disease is the same as osteoporosis. |  |  | | Paget's disease is not the same as osteoporosis.
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