To sell drugs!
This article was written by npr, one of the biggest investigative news research ers.
Guess why the dexa was invented - Bone Health and O...
Guess why the dexa was invented
Written by
SpaghettiIsGood
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30 Replies
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This makes my blood boil!! Big Pharma....I was "diagnosed " with osteopenia in my spine last year at 65 and nearly ended up on Aledronic Acid. Thankfully did my research (Save Our Bones, Better Bones), learned all about the drug etc and its history and now take supplements, do specific exercises and have changed my diet somewhat. "Do no harm" - the medical researchers seem to have abandoned that one!
Fruitandnutcase in reply to
Merck (to name but one big pharma company) have a lot to answer for don’t they. I’ve been reading a book called Too Many Pills by Dr James Le Fanu. In a chapter called Fracture Follies he gets on to talking about osteoporosis and how the decision of how to draw a line between a normal and an abnormal T score and how -2.5 came to be the dividing line between osteopenia and osteoporosis and then he goes on to talk about what he calls ‘the mystery about how the FRAX came about.’
According to Le Fanu numerous requests by research scientists for clarification as to how FRAX was devised have drawn a blank. He says that ‘despite this aura of secrecy FRAX has been drawn into official guidelines.’
It really is a minefield out there.
in reply to Fruitandnutcase
To think that so much damage has been done by a few people in a stifling room in Rome! I remember years and years ago finding a book called "How doctors manipulate women" and taking note then of the medical profession 😜
wellness1 in reply to
There have been books and articles describing women's healthcare experiences, underfunding of health conditions that affect women more than men, and the gender data gap. One is Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez. It can affect everything from heart attack diagnosis to pain management.
She talks about how drug research and therefore dosing guidelines are based on 'Reference Man," not accounting for differences in size (typically), metabolism, and hormones.
"All these drugs need to be looked at to see whether male and female doses should be different.
In fact, they found that was the case for Ambien. Women were driving to work still under the influence of this sleeping pill and crashing their cars because the dose was too high. In 2013 the FDA had to tell women to cut their dose in half because it turned out they were metabolizing the active ingredient twice as slowly [as men]. The “gender-neutral” dose was anything but."
vox.com/future-perfect/2019...
in reply to wellness1
So interesting! We are still ruled by men!!😱
wellness1 in reply to
It's definitely something to be aware of. I know some women try to take a man with them to appointments. (pre-pandemic)
I'd like to think research on osteoporosis drugs hasn't been carried out on 'Reference Man'. 
But even so, size differences may not be adequately considered, a question raised in your other thread SpaghettiIsGood
This is a fascinating book. Every chapter reveals yet another way in which women are suffering. And I am a "privileged white" woman, although starting to notice the burden of aging and slight disability. I can't imagine what it's like for women who also have to deal with the additional issues of race, income, etc. I think everyone should read this book.
I think so too, HeronNS. It's an infuriating read, perhaps best consumed in small installments. I think many people believe the big changes have happened and it's fine now, apart from a few bad apples. But sources like this show how entrenched these attitudes are and how much it can affect people.
SarahBa in reply to
Hi HummingBird99, some of my scores following my recent DEXA scan aren't great and I would like to improve my bone density.
Do you mind kindly sharing the supplements that you take please? I currently take vitamin D3, K2, calcium and magnesium but wonder if there are other supplements that I should take to help improve my bone health, thank you.
in reply to SarahBa
Hi SarahBaWell bone chemistry is really complex! The best thing you can do is look on the bone health thread of this forum as there are people out there with much more knowledge than me. Everyone is different and needs different things and you have to really read up on what is best for you.
I started with this website
You get started with a free kit and then have to pay but for me at least it was well worth it and it isn't a fortune. Then you get so much info on everything - diet, supplements and exercise all of which are important. You will learn all about the drugs prescribed and their downsides. And I get regular emails with alternative exercises, recipes and, most importantly, medical research updates so you know that you are doing the right thing. I declined Aledronic Acid which was recommended for me and it is never easy to go against medical advice so you need to be well armed and equipped and confident that you are doing what is right for you.
The Save our Bones website advocates a 80/20 alkaline/acid diet which is quite difficult at times to follow. But don't be put off - the principles are all there even if you don't manage this (sometimes I do and sometimes I don't!). But all the good food for bones is listed plus all the micronutrients etc needed and therefore supplements. At the end of the day it is not just about bone density - bone quality is as important if not more so. The medical profession has tuned into bone density and Big Pharma for its own purpose, all of which you will learn about. Good luck! It is fascinating stuff! I was terrified when I spoke to my GP at first but now just feel empowered!
You need more than food, supplements, etc. You need some of the appropriate exercises. Walking is good. If you can wear some weight, as in a weighted walking vest, so much the better. Other exercises which have proven good for maintaining bones include tai chi and using Nordic walking poles!If you haven't been able to improve or even maintain your bone density so far, have you been checked for "secondary causes of osteoporosis"?
osteoporosis.ca/medical-con...
I believe savourbones (which will send you a free newsletter btw, at least they used to) does demonstrate a lot of specific exercises. Another good internet source is Margaret Martin, Melioguide.
i always shy away from most sites that are trying to sell you things, but these sites are actually quite helpful and you don't have to buy anything in order to read!
By the way, it's supposed to be a good idea not to take magnesium and calcium supplements at the same time of day. Calcium interferes with magnesium absorption. For example, I've been.taking calcium morning and evening, and magnesium at lunchtime or afternoon tea.
Hi HeronNS, thank you for your extremely helpful reply.
I definitely intend to do more exercises that will improve my bone strength. I only recently found out I was overprescribed on my thyroxine medication so I'm not sure if that has caused the poor bone health results but now that I'm 49 I really feel now is the time to concentrate and improve my bone health and yes that will include relevant exercises too.
I have bought a weighted vest (a very high quality one as this is something I intend to do for the rest of my life and can adjust the weights on the vest) and intend to wear it around the house and when I go on walks.
I have an exercise mat and an exercise I enjoy is hopping on my exercise mat whilst watching a television programme. I'm aiming for at least 20 mins of this every day.
I also have a pair of ankle weights (adjustable weights) but have read mixed reports as to whether it is sensible to walk in these weights (when I say walk I only mean around my house and not on long walks) or if I should be stationary whilst using them, i.e. sitting down and lifting my legs with the weights. Could you advise if I can wear ankle weights to gently walk around my house in them please or could this cause ankle damage?
I am wishing to improve my cardio as well as my bones so at the moment I think my focus will be walking around my house with a weighted vest, longer walks outside my house too and hopping on either leg for approximately twenty minutes a day (and I like the cardio aspect of the hopping exercise too).
I should add I work full time so don't really have the time to go to exercise classes so I'm looking for easy ways to incorporate bone strengthening exercises into my daily routine.
I will look at the links and recommendations you kindly shared. If you have any other tips or advice, now or in the future, regarding exercise, food and supplements that will always be appreciated, thank you.
You seem to be doing fabulously. I really can't help with advice on specific exercises. Personally I doubt (although I really don't know for sure) that ankle weights would help with bone strength but they are probably more useful for muscle strengthening. I actually have a set of ankle weights but I only use them for a few minutes for exercises that are supposed to strengthen muscles which support the knees. The weighted vest on the other hand should have a direct beneficial effect on the spine and leg bones. Worth asking a physiotherapist about the usefulness of ankle weights in bone-building as opposed to muscle-building. On the other hand, stronger muscles exert more pull on the bones so there is always benefit to improving muscle strength. Whether wearing ankle weights just around the house for hours is a good idea is a question for someone who knows a lot more than I do! I wouldn't do it, or if I was going to I'd work my time up from a small amount daily, just like we do with the weighted vest or running, etc.
It was indeed SpaghettiIsGood. 😊
FRAX scores also increase each year (with age) until the 80’s are achieved at which time whoever devised the numbers decided that death or other illnesses had probably caused no further need for increased %ages - probably a man!
Very interesting and eye opening read. Thank you for sharing. I remembered years ago reading about how they came to choose what number cholesterol levels should be. Group of men about to go on stage to discuss cholesterol levels and between them decided on a number without any scientific evidence.
A few years ago the border for high cholesterol was 6 and now it is 5. I have read articles that have said there has never been any scientific data to prove this, and that the figure of 5 had literally been plucked out of the air.
That is exactly what I read. They just basically made it up. I totally refuse to take statins because of this. Again big pharmacy firm making millions.
I knew something was up when everyone was saying they're taking a statin.
Yep, no way I’m taking those things.Dr Paul Mason has a you tube video on them, as does Dr Ken Berry - but I’ve not seen them all the way through yet.
Some years ago little gizmos which allegedly read bone density through a measurement taken at the heel were in all the pharmacies, and then we learned they were not only inaccurate, but were specifically made to encourage the prescribing of bone medicatons. 😡
This reminds me of a book I read a few years ago: Overdo$ed America by John Abramson.
When I opened this article the formatting was really odd and I have no idea who wrote it. I assume from the link that it was published in 2009. They mention taking Fosamax for 10 years as being something to be concerned about but as far as I know more recent thinking is two or at the most three years. However the story of how osteoporosis came to be defined is one often told and it never ceases to be appalling.
I live in Canada and there is a TV program called Marketplace where they do exposes, and otherwise attempt to keep the viewing public informed. Unfortunately the CBC is not funded well enough and they run commercials. A couple of times I saw ads for Prolia. In Canada no real medical information can be given in such ads. So this one showed a woman being very active with various things and implied that Prolia would keep you young. I don't think any mention was made of bones. I wrote a letter of complaint to the relevant government department and some time later was told the ad met all guidelines.
You are a hero, trying to right a wrong. Hopefully, someone builds on that, maybe a lawyer.
It's actually pretty hilarious not being allowed to tell viewers what a prescription med they are advertising on tv is for. There was an ad for something during the Olympics, and at the end of the last version of this I saw one of the actors remarked, "What is Ozempic?" 
I was furious about Prolia ad because it so misleadingly telling people it's a drug which will make you youthful where it is nothing of the sort, not even peripherally.
It's good you publicized the information here. Someone who can do something about it may see it and take action. This website has seen solicitations of companies asking for participation.
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