Bone Health and Osteoporosis Program

As people age, bones naturally lose minerals and become more brittle. Brittle bones are more likely to fracture, which can lead to severe pain, disability and loss of function and independence. In some people, brittle bones can lead to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a common and serious health condition that almost exclusively affects women. It has been found that 50% of postmenopausal women (have already gone through menopause) will break a bone related to osteoporosis during their lifetime.

At the Orlando Health Women’s Pavilion – Winter Park, we are determined to help improve this statistic and osteoporosis care for women. Therefore, we established a dedicated Bone Health and Osteoporosis Program designed exclusively for women. Our medical staff is specially trained, collaborative and focused on providing the best bone health and osteoporosis care possible to you.

Understanding Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to increased fracture risk. Fracture risk increases as bone mineral density decreases. Bone mineral density is affected by many factors, such as:

• Genetics
• Hormone imbalance
• Kidney function problems
• Lifestyle factors (smoking or alcohol use)
• Medications like glucocorticoids and anti-epileptics
• Underlying diseases, like diabetes or multiple sclerosis

When caring for a patient with osteoporosis, our experts understand that it’s important to take a comprehensive look at your past medical history and overall health to get the full picture of the factors that may be contributing to the condition. We also take a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to treating women with osteoporosis, which means that we consider all aspects of your life — such as diet, activity level and lifestyle — as we formulate a customized treatment plan that will work for you. In addition, having easy access to labs and imaging at the Orlando Health Women’s Pavilion helps you get the comprehensive care you need for this complex health condition all in one location.

Quality Osteoporosis Care for Women in Central Florida

Our bone health providers believe in a holistic and teamwork-driven approach to care. This means our doctors evaluate the whole person as it relates to osteoporosis care and spend a lot of time educating women about the disease, potential complications and available treatment options. Working together, our care team develops the best long-term prevention and treatment approach for you.

We are committed to increasing women’s access to quality osteoporosis care in Central Florida while raising awareness about the importance of osteoporosis care and reducing misconceptions about the condition. The Orlando Health Women’s Pavilion ­­is a state-of-the-art, beautiful facility that is warm and inviting. Our facility has easy parking and access, along with most of the services a woman would need in a single location. This makes for an easier and more relaxed experience. In addition, the providers at the Olrando Health Women’s Pavilion are all in tune with women’s health and how important it is that women treat themselves well in order to continue to care for others in their lives.

Program Offerings

Most patients who come to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Program are postmenopausal (have already gone through menopause). Some patients have already fractured bones, while others have been newly diagnosed with osteoporosis and are unsure of what it means for them and their future. We also see patients are at risk for osteoporosis and want to take steps to prevent it. No matter your reason for coming to our Bone Health and Osteoporosis Program, our team works to develop a personalized treatment plan designed just for you and any specific underlying causes of your osteoporosis.

The prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is integral to a woman’s health. The experts in our Bone Health and Osteoporosis Program assess each woman’s risk factors for osteoporosis, including:

• Fall risk assessment
• Family history
• Lifestyle choices such as nutritional intake, smoking, alcohol and exercise
• Medications
• Underlying health issues

Our team uses the following to aid in making an accurate diagnosis:

• Imaging studies, particularly DXA bone densitometry studies
• Laboratory analysis
• Past medical history, particularly fracture history

Once we have made a personalized diagnosis, our team develops a care plan specifically tailored to you. Care plans may include the latest treatment options that are very effective at decreasing fractures.