Rottenstein Law Group Notes With Approval Suggestion of FDA Advisory Panel That Fosamax Carry Label Warning Recommending Regular Re-Evaluations
Fosamax Femur Fracture
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 12, 2011
According to a Reuters article, two advisory panels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday “declined to suggest how long women should take a class of drugs used by millions to prevent bone fractures, but agreed the labels should be changed to reflect uncertainty about the risks and benefits of long-term use.” The FDA had previously issued a Fosamax warning in October 2010, stating that the drug, among other bisphosphonates, causes atypical low-impact femur fractures Before that, in 2005, a warning of higher risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw had been added to labels, and in 2009, a caution about adverse gastrointestinal reactions.
The FDA, the Reuters piece reports, “had asked two of its advisory panels to recommend whether a ‘drug holiday’ or some time limit was warranted on a class of osteoporosis drugs known as bisphosphonates that have been linked to unusual thigh fractures and other side effects.” (The drugs under review include Merck & Co’s Fosamax, Warner Chilcott’s Actonel, Roche’s Boniva, and Novartis’s Reclast. This class of drugs has also been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw, or jaw bone death, and a possible higher cancer risk.) “Instead, the advisers voted 17-6 on Friday to make changes to the labeling with many in favor of specifying how often patients need a re-evaluation of whether they need the medicine,” Reuters reported.
“Studies presented by the FDA and the industry did not paint a conclusive picture to estimate whether benefits outweigh the risks in taking bisphosphonates for longer than three to five years or how exactly each of these drugs affects various subgroups of patients, advisers said.” Accordingly, the FDA advisers voted 17-6 on Friday to make changes to bisphosphonate medication labeling, with many in favor of specifying how often patients need a re-evaluation of whether they need the medicine.
The Rottenstein Law Group urges anyone whose friend or relative has been prescribed Fosamax or another osteoporosis drug to reach out to that person and recommend that he or she consult a physician immediately and then speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer. The Rottenstein Law Group maintains a Fosamax Fracture Lawsuit Information Center at http://www.fosamaxfemurfracturelawsuit.com. The site has features that allow for easy sharing, including links for automatic posting on Facebook and Twitter, specifically to enable visitors to spread the word about the dangers of Fosamax.
About THE ROTTENSTEIN LAW GROUP
The Rottenstein Law Group is a New York-based law firm that represents clients in mass tort actions. The firm was founded by Rochelle Rottenstein, who has more than two decades of experience as a lawyer, to represent clients in consumer product injury, mass tort, and class action lawsuits in a compassionate manner. http://www.rotlaw.com
• Download a free brochure: bit.ly Memorial Nurse Practitioner, Penny Renwick, discusses early detection and prevention of osteoporosis. Video Rating: 0 / 5
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Are you at risk for developing osteoporosis? Over 34 billion Americans currently suffer from low bone density that can lead to osteoporosis and potentially deadly bone fractures. Now more than ever, we want to live long and healthy lives, and prolong our active and vibrant quality of life. Knowing whether you are at risk for developing osteoporosis can help you maintain your quality of life well into your senior years.
Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but research has shown that certain people have a higher risk of developing this disabling disease. Here are the top 10 risk factors:
1. Women have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis. Once a woman is post-menopausal, her risk increases further. Women who have an early or surgically-induced menopause are also at higher risk.
2. Women who are Caucasian or Asian are at a higher risk. If you are thin and have a small frame, your chances of developing osteoporosis increase.
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3. Has your mother had a hip fracture or osteoporosis? If so, your risk of hip fracture is doubled.
4. A diet low in calcium, either as an adult or as a child, can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis.
5. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Lack of vitamin D is another risk factor for developing osteoporosis.
6. Smoking cigarettes interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium.
7. Excessive alcohol consumption also makes it difficult for calcium to be absorbed. Bones will be weaker without sufficient calcium.
8. Lack of weight-bearing exercise, or if you have been unable to walk or exercise for an extended period of time can put you at risk.
9. Long-term use of certain medications can cause osteoporosis. If you have taken certain medications for asthma or arthritis, or have had chemotherapy treatments, check with your doctor to see if you are at risk for osteoporosis.
10. Eating disorders can lead to osteoporosis, because nutrients are not properly absorbed.
If you think you are at risk for developing osteoporosis, see your doctor. Although osteoporosis is a serious disease, there are ways to prevent osteoporosis and the fractures that can result. Your doctor can recommend changes in diet and exercise, regular bone density screenings, and medications that help increase bone density and prevent fractures.
Once you understand the risks of osteoporosis and can address them, you’ll be on your way to living a healthy, active lifestyle no matter what your age.
Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Find out how healthy living and exercise can reduce your risk factors for osteoporosis!
Julie is a health researcher and has written many health and wellness articles.
Thera-Band Exercise Reduces Falls and Improves Quality of Life in Women with Osteoporosis, Says Thera-Band Academy
Akron, OH (PRWEB) June 28, 2011
Persons with osteoporosis are at higher risk of fracture after a fall. It’s well-known that exercise is an important aspect of managing osteoporosis, yet there are few studies evaluating the effects of balance exercises on actually preventing falls in women with osteoporosis. The Academy Blog recently featured a study showing that elastic resistance training can reduce the risk factors associated with falls, but did not examine actual fall rates.
Researchers in Brazil investigated the effects of a year-long balance training program on quality of life, balance, and falls in older women with osteoporosis. The women were randomly assigned to an exercise group or control group. Those in the exercise group performed a balance training program 1 hour per week, supplemented with home exercises for 12 months.
The program consisted of 15 minutes of warm-up and stretching exercises, 15 minutes of walking, and 30 minutes of dynamic and static balance training exercises. The same exercises were repeated at home 3 times a week for 30 minutes. The researchers used a previously published exercise protocol that showed a significant decrease in falls in Japanese older adults. The exercises in the group and at home included moderate resistance training with dumbbells and Thera-Band exercise bands.
After 12 months, the exercise group significantly improved in balance and their quality of life scores compared to the control group, as well as significantly reduced their fall rates (50% reduction in exercise group compared to 26% reduction in control group). In conclusion, a 12-month exercise program including Thera-Band elastic resistance can significantly decrease falls and improve quality of life in older women with osteoporosis.
Visit the Thera-Band Academy Osteoporosis Resource Center here
About the Thera-Band Academy
The Thera-Band® Academy was formed to scientifically document the benefits of resistance exercise and pain relief, guide the company in its development of new product and exercise programs, and to promote therapeutic exercise and pain management through professional and consumer education. The Academy web site is a unique resource that connects healthcare professionals and consumers to the ever growing body of knowledge on exercise. Registration is free and provides access to the largest database of rehab exercises, protocols, research and education in the world.
About Performance Health
Performance Health is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad portfolio of products for the therapy, rehabilitation, massage, wellness and consumer retail markets. Maker of market-leading Thera-Band®, Biofreeze® and Perform® products, Performance Health provides evidence-based protocols, education, turn-key dispensing and pain management solutions.
REFERENCE: Madureira MM, et al. A 12-month randomized controlled trial of balance training in elderly women with osteoporosis: improvement of quality of life. Maturitas. 2010 Jun;66(2):206-11. Epub 2010 Apr 14.
Software Engineer Karen Liew’s mother suffered from osteoporosis three years ago and she is worried that, with her current sedentary lifestyle, she might be at risk of contracting the disease as well.
Karen’s mother, Mdm Yam was diagnosed with osteoporosis and scoliosis in 2006 and is currently taking medication and regular private Tai Chi lessons on a weekly basis. Prior to taking up Tai Chi lessons, Mdm Yam had been taking calcium tablets for 2 years as prescribed by the doctor. Instead of showing signs of improvements, her bone mass density has shown to decline over the years. Her doctor feedback that the body does not absorb the calcium as intended and thus recommended that she should engage with regular exercise in conjunction with the medication.
Yip See Kit, senior coach from NewAgeTaichi which is also the personal trainer for Mdm Yam comments “Tai Chi exercise is considered as a safe and alternate complementary therapy for prevention of osteoporosis because of its weight bearing nature. Together with the focus on balance and fall prevention in the Tai Chi training program, it has greatly improved her condition.”
Coach Yip also conducted regular record of Mdm Yam’s body composition measurement using Tanita InnerScan Body Composition Monitor before and after each Tai Chi lessons to monitor her bone mass and muscle mass. It was observed that she has been able to maintain her bone mass and that her BMR – basal metabolic rate also shows an increase after each Tai Chi lesson, which is one of the psychological benefits of exercise.
Jane Tan, senior coach of NewAgeTaichi with a Dip in sports & exercise science, stressed that the body need both exercise and vitamin D (readily obtained from sunlight) to effectively absorb the calcium into the body, otherwise the excess calcium will just pass out from the body as waste.
Since osteoporosis usually strikes women after menopause, a common belief is that it’s an older women’s disease. However, a recent study conducted in Britain by the University of Surrey and the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro in 2008 showed that 20 per cent of women aged 20 to 29 had low bone mass, which could lead to early onset of osteoporosis.
It would be a good idea for women to start engaging in weight bearing exercises (rebounding, running, jumping, jogging, Tai Chi, resistance training) as bone mass loss begins at around age 30, which will potentially lead to the disease and causing painful fragility fractures. Dr Lau Tang Ching, president of the Osteoporosis Society (Singapore), said that a person’s bone mass usually starts declining by about 1 per cent a year after that age, and that a sedentary lifestyle together with poor dietary habits, which is often the result of living in a busy, modern world like Singapore, can multiple the risk of osteoporosis. In such cases, bone mass deterioration can occur at a rate of 2 or 3 per cent a year, he added. That, combined with unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking means young people are at higher risk of developing this disease in the near future.
Dr Bernard Thong, head and senior consultant of the Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology Department at Tan Tock Seng Hospital stressed that prevention is easier than cure when it comes to osteoporosis. And that specifically means reducing alcohol intake and smoking, increasing aerobic exercise and improving dietary calcium and vitamin D intake, said Dr Thong.
According to Ministry of Health clinical-practice guidelines released in January 2009, the incidence of hip fracture in Singapore has increased 1.5times in men and five times in women since 1960s. One in five dies within a year after sustaining a hip fracture. About 800 to 900 hip fractures occur every year in Singapore because of osteoporosis.
“Fragility fractures of the hip and spine can lead to significant pain and immobility, and affect daily activities, especially among able-bodied working adults,” said Dr Thong.
“We are currently conducting Tai Chi for Osteoporosis classes, which is a special program catered for osteoporosis patients to educate and guide how to exercise safely and effectively. We have been getting very well responses from the participants and the class does not only restrict to people with osteoporosis and is also suitable to people with all ages,” added Coach Jane.
References
Cambell, A. et al. (1997) Randomised controlled trial of general practice programme of home based exercise to prevent falls in elderly women. British Medical Journal 315 1065-1069
Dianne Daniels, M.A., (2008) Exercise for Osteoporosis (3rd Edition Ed) Hatherleigh Press New York, London
Kerri Winters-Stone, P., (2005) Action Plan For Osteoporosis – Your guide to stronger, healthier bones Human Kinetics USA
Kontulainen, S. et al. (2001) Good maintenance of exercise-induced bone gain with decreased training of female tennis and squash players: a prospective 5-year follow-up study of young and old starters and controls. J Bone Miner Res 16:202
Loomer, P. (2001) The impact of microgravity on bone metabolism in vitro and in vivo. Crit Rev Oral Bio Med 12:252
Mau-Roung, L. et al. (2006) Community-Based Tai Chi and Its Effect on Injurious Falls, Balance, Gait, and Fear of Falling in Older People. PHYS THER 86 (9): 1181-1201
Mosekilde, L. (2000) Age-related changes in bone mass, and strength – effects of loading, Z Rheumatol 59 Suppl 1:1
Risser, W. (1990) Bone density in eumenorrheic female college athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 22:570
Snow-Harter, C. and Marcus (1991) Exercise, bone mineral density, and osteoporosis. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 19:351
Tanno, M. et al. (2001) Age-related changes in cortical and trabecular bone mineral status. A quantitative CT study in lumbar vetebrae Acta Radiol 42:15
Voukelatos Alexander, M.P. et al. (2007) A Randomized, Controlled Trial of tai chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney tai chi Trial. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 55 (8): 1185-1191
Wolf, S. et al. (1993) The Atlanta FICSIT study: two exercise interventions to reduce frailty in elders. Journal of the American Geriatrics 41 329-332
Coach Yip is currently NROC registered with the Singapore Sports Council under Wushu/Tai Chi with a National Coaching Accreditation Programme (NCAP) Level 3, a Tai Chi master with almost 20 years of experience is a well known Tai Chi coach in Singapore. Coach Yip approaches Tai Chi in a very scientific research based and systematically training system. He is also an experienced Sports Massage Therapist certified by the Singapore Sports Council.
Besides giving personal and small group coaching, he also specializes in Wushu/Tai Chi coaching for Kids in schools and has previously conducted Mass Wushu Workout for Kids, ranging from primary to junior college level. To date, more than 8,000 students had benefited from his Sports Scientific Wushu & Tai Chi coaching. For more information, visit www.NewAgeTaichi.com
phoenixnutritionals.com (CLICK HERE) Those of us in the natural medicine and nutrition fields have been touting the use of natural calcium compounds to not only aid in the prevention of osteoporosis but also as a safe alternative to osteoporosis drugs. We have been warning women of the potential dangers of osteoporosis drugs for several decades. The FDA has recently issued a warning for a specific class of bone drugs called bisphosphonates. You may not recognize the name bisphosphonates but you will certainly be familiar with their drug names, which include Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, and Atelvia. Bisphosphonates have now been shown to greatly increase the risk of hip and femoral fractures, the very problem they were designed to prevent! While it is not yet known how drugs like Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, and Atelvia increase the risk and danges, the FDA has issued an official warning for these bone drugs. Hip and femoral fractures are common in those with osteoporosis and bone loss but no one suspected that Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Atelvia would actually contribute to this problem. There have been seven clinical studies showing that calcium, in the right form, can not only halt the progression of bone loss, but can actually increase bone density over time. Calcium and bone loss has always been at the heart of osteoporosis. Bone is made up of calcium and when calcium is leached from the bone to meet the needs of the body chemistry, it must be replaced. As we age, our … Video Rating: 4 / 5
Osteoporosis affects over 10 million Americans, and 80 percent of those are women. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, an additional 34 million Americans have low bone density, a serious risk factor for developing osteoporosis and suffering a fracture. Osteoporosis is a serious health risk for women, and the more you know about this disease, the more you can do to prevent it.
Surely you know of an elderly relative or neighbor who has suffered a fracture from a fall and how difficult recovery from that kind of injury can be. These fractures are usually the result of weakened, fragile bones. In fact, osteoporosis causes fractures in one out of every two post-menopausal women over 50.
Hip fractures are extremely difficult to recover from, and often result in a permanent disability. Many women lose their independence after a fracture, and the medical costs can be huge. In fact, thirty percent of hip fracture patients end up in nursing homes within a year of their fracture, and twenty percent die in the year following a fracture.
Fractures in the spine can occur because the vertebrae become so weak that they compress. This compression can be extremely painful and lead to loss of height or stooped posture. Fractures of the spine require long recovery times, and lead to a very high risk of another spinal fracture within one year.
If you think you don’t need to worry about osteoporosis until you are older, think again. Women typically have the most bone loss in the first 5 years after menopause. So, if you are a woman in your fifties, you are probably losing bone mass already. If you are Caucasian or Asian, have a small frame or have a family history of osteoporosis, your risk of developing osteoporosis is greatly increased.
There are usually no symptoms of osteoporosis in the early stages of the disease. Osteoporosis can silently rob your bones of their strength, and you might be unaware of it until a fracture occurs. Since your bones are at their peak strength at age 25, bones can begin weakening at an early age. Even if you are a healthy woman in your early thirties, you should be aware of the risks of osteoporosis and the ways to prevent it.
Don’t wait to educate yourself about osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about the risk factors for the disease, ways to prevent bone loss and the newest treatments available. There are many resources for learning the facts about osteoporosis, such as
If you want to live a healthy and active life as you age, start preventing osteoporosis now. It’s never too soon.
Julie is a health researcher and has published many articles on health and wellness issues.
There are a lot of myths about osteoporosis, a bone disease that leads to the thinning of bone tissue, and ultimately, to broken hips, wrists and spines. One myth is that only women get osteoporosis. Another: that only old women get it. The truth is, men can suffer from it too. So can young people. But osteoporosis is treatable, and now, there is a new, once-a-year treatment on the horizon. a new drug, zoledronic acid, only needs to be taken once a year through an IV drip that takes 15 minutes. A study found women who got zoledronic acid had dramatically fewer spine and hip fractures than those taking a placebo. The women on zoledronic acid also had significantly fewer fractures of other bones. Video Rating: 0 / 5
The emergence of One Source vitamins for women has a lot of people wondering if these are effective or just one of those media-hyped to be good but are actually not. One Source Vitamins is a company that produces health supplements for different types of people.
Researching about One Source Vitamins will tell you that there are vitamins made by this company that are designed for women, pregnant or not, the elderly, children, and there are One Source Vitamins for men, too. One Source Vitamins proudly claims to manufacture product lines that consist of vitamins and nutrients that are exactly what the body needs.
There are people who think they do not need to take vitamin supplements anymore. They argue that they are making wise food choices, anyway, and that means they can nonetheless secure their daily vitamin requirements from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, and so on. Vitamins can indeed be sourced from whole foods, then again, for you to benefit greatly, the foods have to be organically grown and prepared. Putting chemical additives or cooking them as in the case of vegetables reduces the foods’ nutritional value.
Vitamin supplements are of great significance to people who cannot find the time to eat healthily. Women who are always up on their toes will depend largely on vitamin supplements to supply their body of the essential vitamins, and one product line that may just fit into their lifestyle is One Source Vitamins for Women. One Source consists of the Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, calcium, folic acid, iron, and a whole lot more.
Women need Vitamin A to maintain a healthy eyesight. One’s visual acuity diminishes with age, and taking Vitamin A helps to prevent it from happening too soon, or at the very least lessen its impact. Vitamin A, as an antioxidant, is also an immune booster, enabling your body to resist illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Vitamin A can make your skin look beautiful, too; it has the capability of reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and blemishes resulting from acne breakouts.
Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6 to many is another important element a woman must have. Insufficient Vitamin B6 can lead to irritability, loss of appetite, and hairloss. Vitamin B6 can treat skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema, dry skin, and dandruff.
Man or woman, child or adult need Vitamin C to boost their body’s ability to ward off common diseases as well as to increase its capability to restore itself. Vitamin C is also necessary in the absorption of Iron, a mineral that would also play a vital role in the production of hemoglobin, and in the prevention of anemia.
Also a major component of One Source Vitamins is Vitamin E. As an antioxidant, and one of the most powerful at that, Vitamin E is believed to delay the onset of the aging process. In fact, many are taking Vitamin E supplements to maintain their youthful glow.
Calcium helps build stronger bones and prevents osteoporosis. Women need a good amount of calcium each day to improve the health of their bones.
Folic acid is especially recommended to pregnant women, as it has been suggested that this vitamin can prevent neural defects or other kinds of birth defects. Folic acid is not limited to pregnant women, though. Those desiring to be pregnant also need Folic acid for a healthier pregnancy.
Osteoporosis is a disease that can be crippling, leaving bones brittle, weak and easily broken. There are already some 8 million women in the US who suffer from osteoporosis* and experts say that number could soon skyrocket. Video Rating: 0 / 5
Many women do not make a decision without knowing the actual cost of feeding for infants. It is possible for the price of baby formula, bottles and teats. You might also remember to take into account the cost of sterilizing bottles and teats. But few women who choose not to breastfeed, to take into account the cost of baby food on the health of your child and their health.
Women who breast feed the baby little or no use at all.The lack of breastfeeding, which is part of the natural physiological process of pregnancy and childbirth, resulting in increased risks to the health of women. Women can not breastfeed or who breastfed for a shorter period, were:
Increased risk of breast cancer
Women who breastfeed have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Those who are breast-feeding for better protection. The relationship between breastfeeding and lactationreduce the risk of cancer is so strong that the World Wide Fund for Cancer Research / American Institute for Cancer Research “Breastfeeding and breast milk, as one of 10 recommendations to prevent cancer.
In a study of the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, published each month of breastfeeding in a decrease of 0.44 kg for women after childbirth. Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of severalDiseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Therefore, helping to control weight, helps breastfeeding protects women against diseases associated with weight gain.
Increased risk of developing the disease of diabetes
According to a study by the American Medical Association, published each year of breastfeeding, reducing the risk of developing diabetes by 15%. Therefore, the more a woman is breastfeeding, the greater their protection againstDiabetes.
Increased risk of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer
Women who had never breastfed a higher incidence of endometrial cancer in women who breast-fed. Women who have breastfed more children have a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
Increased risk of osteoporosis
Women, children longer periods of breast-feeding is usually higher bone density and have a lower risk ofFractures than women who never breast-fed infants or not.
Increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis
A study published in Arthritis and Rheumatism found that breastfeeding for at least 12 months reduced women’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Increased stress and anxiety
Lactating women reported being Formula least a good mood and positive developments, the more stress that mothers who are breastfeeding, a studyBiological Research for Nursing found. The formula for the baby also had more depression and anger, mothers who breastfeed. Breastfeeding floods the brain of the mother of oxytocin, a hormone that is responsible for creating positive emotions and confidence. It is also a “feel good” or “hormone” love known.
Reduced natural birth spacing
Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months after delivery, the fertility of women who can prevent reduced Pregnancy. In a study in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, none of the pregnant mothers who, six months after birth, breast-feeding. The formula of mothers do not receive this benefit natural contraception.
The health impact of infant baptism in the formula for increased costs for women and their families, such as medical expenses, lost productivity and even loss of life. To understand the cost of infant formula, consider the> The health risks for women who do not breastfeed their children and do not receive breast milk. Parents should be aware of the real cost of baby food, make an informed decision about how to feed and care for their children.
This video is a sample of Dr. Kathy Maupin’s interactive CD-ROM entitled the BioBalance 4 Women Virtual Office Visit. For more information, go to biobalance4women.com. Video Rating: 0 / 5
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