I write these daily entries almost always focusing on weight control, the risks of being overweight/obese and how we should best address any issues we have with poor weight control. This entry was prompted by an episode that occurred yesterday to our friend. Steve was helping us during our move in date at our new house, he took a fall and had three leg fractures requiring a 911 call and rescue squad transfer to the hospital.
Depending on the area of the fracture and severity, fractures can change lives drastically. As an example, a fracture of the cervical spine could lead to paralysis. A compound multifracture of a leg could ruin a football player’s career. However, a much more simple, small fracture of an arm could not too impactful to someone’s life.
The risk factors for having a fracture at some point in time in our lives include:
- Age: Obviously, older people have higher risk for fractures than younger individuals
- Gender: Females, due to less bone mass have higher fracture rates than males
- Cigarette smoking: This lowers bone mass
- Alcohol usage: Excessive alcohol use leads to decrease bone mass and increase propensity for falls
- Steroid use: Certain diseases require chronic steroid usage and this reduces bone mass
- Diabetes: Poor blood sugar control impacts bone health
- Low Vitamin D levels: Vitamin D is involved in bone health
- Chronic GI issues such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease: This could impact calcium absorption from the GI tract
- Family history of fractures.
As you peruse the above list, you do not see obesity as a risk factor for fractures. Having said that, obesity clearly impacts the recovery from a fracture involving weight bearing joints.
I believe it is a truism that everyone reading this post, including me, at some point will wind up falling. Having that fall turn into a simple “get up and only have a bruise” to fracturing a bone(s) and having your life messed up for weeks, months or years can be impacted by attention to the controllable risk factors listed above.
We wish our friend Steve a speedy recovery as well as anyone else out there that is recovering from any trauma, illness or other health-impacting issue.
And maybe one of the worst brakes? Breaking the heart. And the risk factor for this? Yep, Love. Enjoy Neil Young.
