Tips For Using Hormone Therapy To Prevent Osteoporotic Fractures
If you are considering getting hormone treatments to prevent osteoporotic fractures, then you will need to minimize the risk of having any unpleasant side effects from the treatment. In order to reduce your risks and only enjoy the benefits of hormone therapy, here are a few suggestions.
Delivery Method
One of the most important things you can do is to choose the best delivery method for your hormone therapy. There are many methods available, these include postmenopausal injection treatments, gels, patches and pills. You also have the option of using a vaginal cream or tablet. The method you choose should fit in with your lifestyle and make administration of the therapy easier, so that you are able to do the treatments on a consistent basis. Consistency means you will reap the benefits faster and be off the therapy sooner.
Keep It Short
The amount of time you stay on the treatment can determine whether or not you will suffer any side effects. At any given time, you should be taking only the lowest dose of hormones possible to prevent fractures. If your bones are extremely fragile and this is preventing you from having a normal life, then your doctor is likely to recommend that you stay on the treatment longer. If you must have therapy for a longer than normal period of time, then make sure that you follow up with your doctor regularly so that you can get off the treatment as soon possible to prevent side effects.
Do Not Smoke
Smoking is bad for your health in general. However, if you are receiving hormone therapy to prevent fractures, then you should not smoke at all because it could lead to blood clots and a stroke. If you are a smoker, then the need for hormone therapy makes it a good time to try to quit. If you are not a smoker, then you should try to avoid secondhand smoke as this can also be detrimental when on hormone therapy.
Eat Healthy
While on hormone therapy, you should also be eating a healthy diet that includes increased calcium to strengthen bones. Ask your doctor to help you plan your diet so that it will be beneficial to you while you are on hormone therapy.
While hormone therapy to prevent osteoporotic fractures can have side effects, if you are strategic about how you use it, you are likely to only enjoy the benefits.