Episode 19: Things You Should Know About Bone Strength and Spinal Health

Did you know that broken bones of the spine are the most common type of fractures in people with osteoporosis? In this episode, National Osteoporosis Foundation CEO Claire Gill interviews Dr. Tom Schuler, president of the National Spine Health Foundation and CEO and founder of the Virginia Spine Institute. They discuss the relationship between overall bone health and spinal health while offering useful tips on some of the most important things people can do at every stage of life to protect their spine.

Dr. Tom Schuler is president of the National Spine Health Foundation and chairman of its Medical and Scientific Board. His is also the founder of the Virginia Spine Institute. He has previously been the spine consultant to the Washington Redskins and frequently treats professional and amateur athletes. Dr. Schuler is a pioneer in the advancement of disc arthroplasty, minimally invasive spine surgery, and regenerative therapies. He has revolutionized spinal health care across the Washington, DC metropolitan area and the nation. Dr. Schuler is the Physician Assistant Fellowship Program Director at the Virginia Spine Institute. Dr. Schuler is a distinguished fellow in both the American College of Spine Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, and the U.S. Capital Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).

Preventing Fractures and Falls: https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/

Episode 18: Active Aging and the Critical Importance of Bone Health

The National Osteoporosis Foundation is excited to once again be named as an official charity partner of the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon – which will celebrate its 50th anniversary on November 1. To commemorate this milestone year, NOF has recruited dedicated women over the age of 50 to join its ‘Be Bone Strong’ team. The team is committed to showcasing the critical importance of bone health in active aging.

We are thankful that TheOptimal.me is supporting our endeavor as a sponsor of the ‘Be Bone Strong’ team. TheOptimal.me is an extensive online collection of Integrated Movement Routines (IMRs) that work all your muscles together, balancing your body to help you stay active and break free from the aches and pains of aging.

In this sponsored podcast, we highlight the online program offered by TheOptimal.me and explain how the exercises support active aging. Staying healthy over age 50 includes many factors such as a proper nutrition, exercise, safe movement and encouraging a healthy mind/body connection. 

The National Osteoporosis Foundation’s Be Bone Strong Team: https://www.nof.org/tcs-new-york-city-marathon-2020/

Episode 17: Top Research in the Field of Osteoporosis

Dr. Felicia Cosman

In this podcast, National Osteoporosis Foundation Interim CEO Claire Gill interviews Dr. Felicia Cosman, Coeditor in Chief of the Osteoporosis International journal and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. 

We know that approximately 10 million Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis or low bone mass. A recent study NOF commissioned from the actuarial firm Milliman found that 2 million Medicare Patients suffered 2.3 million fractures based on 2015 data. Yet only 9% received a bone mineral density test (BMD). Research on osteoporosis has brought about many advancements in care, which can help to prevent 50% of repeat fractures. This episode highlights some of the most important research from the past decade and how it has changed how healthcare providers diagnose and treat osteoporosis, and what it means for patients. 

Medicare cost of osteoporotic fractures: https://www.bonehealthpolicyinstitute.org/full-milliman-report

NEW - The Economic Impact of Osteoporotic Fractures Webinar: https://vimeo.com/418127721

NEW - The Economic Impact of Osteoporotic Fractures Presentation: https://cdn.nof.org/wp-content/uploads/NOM-Milliman-Webinar-May-2020.pdf

Episode 16: How to eat to stay bone strong all year long

As we kick off the holiday season you may be wondering: Is it possible to indulge in our favorite holiday eats and treats while also eating to build and maintain strong bones? Spoiler alert: yes! 

In this episode, NOF Bone Health Ambassador and Trustee, Barbara Hannah Grufferman, chats with aptly named nutrition expert Dr. Beth Kitchin about how we can choose the right foods to support strong bones. The ladies also discuss some of the delicious recipes that can be found in NOF’s new Bone Health Cookbook. So if you’re looking to prepare a delectable dish for your next holiday gathering, or just wondering how to choose the best food for healthy bones, give this episode a listen. 

Dr. Beth Kitchin
Beth is presently an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences where she teaches several undergraduate and graduate courses. She is also the director of the UAB Minor in Nutrition Sciences. She has been the patient educator in UAB’s Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Clinic since 1997. Find out more about Dr. Kitchin.

NOF Resource Library: https://www.nof.org/patients/nof-resource-library/

NOF’s Bone Health Cookbook
https://store.nof.org/products/food-for-bones-cookbook

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/

In this podcast, NOF CEO, Elizabeth Thompson, interviews Dr. Clark to learn how recognizing and using the power of hope can help osteoporosis patients — as well as their loved ones and caregivers — weather the ups and downs of the disease.

Much like osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease impacts balance, leading to falls and fractures that only further debilitate the person afflicted. In this episode, our very own Dr. Susan Greenspan, President of NOF’s Board of Trustees, sits down with a panel of experts to discuss osteoporosis and Parkinson’s, and a new research trial designed to help prevent falls and fractures in patients with both osteoporosis and Parkinson’s disease. Our panel includes expert commentary from Dr. Caroline Tanner, neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Kenneth Lyles, geriatrician and endocrinologist, and Dr. Steve Cummings, expert on the epidemiology of osteoporosis, women's health, and aging.

Episode 13: Menopause and Sex

Every day, approximately 6,000 women in the U.S. reach menopause. By 2020, 50 million women will be postmenopausal, and because we are all living longer, most of us will spend over half our lives as a postmenopausal woman! In this third and final episode of our series on menopause and bone health, we discuss what happens to our bodies when we go through menopause, the impact it may have on your sexual life and why you may not need to put sex on the back burner after all.

• The North American Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/

• NY Times Article mentioned in the podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/well/live/menopause-sex-decline-partner-husband-wife.html

• NOF Resource Library: https://www.nof.org/patients/nof-resource-library/

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/

Episode 12: Menopause Part 2– Menopause, hormone therapy, and bone health—what’s the deal?

Hormone therapy can help ease the symptoms of menopause, but it’s got a bad rap thanks to a study released in 2002. The flawed study caused many healthcare professionals to cease prescribing hormone treatment, but in recent years it has begun working its way back into the good graces of the medical community. With so much information (and mis-information) out there, it can be hard to know what’s right for you. In this episode—part two of our three part series on menopause and bone health—bone and women’s health expert Dr. Margaret Nachtigall explains what hormone therapy is, the current recommendations around it, and what questions you should be asking your healthcare provider to know what’s right for you.

• The North American Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/

• NOF Resource Library: https://www.nof.org/patients/nof-resource-library/

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/

Episode 11: Menopause Part 1– Protecting strong bones before, during and after menopause– What you need to know

Menopause: it’s a hot topic that’s about so much more than just hot flashes! In part one of this three part series, NOF bone health ambassador, Barbara Hannah Grufferman, sits down with Dr. Margaret Nachtigall, highly regarded reproductive endocrinologist, and Clinical Associate Professor within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Division Reproductive Endocrine at NYU Langone Health, to discuss how women can create strong bones before, during and after menopause.

• The North American Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/

• NOF Resource Library: https://www.nof.org/patients/nof-resource-library/

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/

Episode 10: Improving the Treatment Pathway for Vertebral Compression Fractures

Is it a pulled muscle, or a vertebral compression fracture? Vertebral compression fractures can sometimes be painless, but are still a significant risk to overall health. So how do we diagnose and treat something we may not even know we have? In this episode, Dr. Douglas P. Beall, Chief of Radiology Services at Clinical Radiology of Oklahoma, sits down with NOF CEO, Elizabeth Thompson to discuss. 

Dr. Beall is passionate about improving the treatment pathway for vertebral compression fractures, and helping others be aware of them and how to diagnose and treat them early. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Beall is also a clinical researcher, working to improve medical knowledge of osteoporosis treatment options and pain management. If you have been diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis, or know someone who has, this is a podcast you won’t want to miss!

• Video Link: Access Health “The Impact of Vertebral Compression Fractures” featuring Dr. Douglas P. Beall

• Bone Basics Brochure

• Vertebral Compression Fractures and What Can Be Done About Them

• Technical Report- Management of vertebral fragility fractures: a clinical care pathway developed by a multispecialty panel using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method

• Evolve Study– Prospective and Multicenter Evaluation of Outcomes for Quality of Life and Activities of Daily Living for Balloon Kyphoplasty in the Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures

• VCF Mortality Risk Study

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/