When we think about the risk factors for heart diseases—like smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol—we usually only think about their impact on the heart.
However, a groundbreaking study reveals that these factors can also affect bone health, specifically the risk of fractures.
This is important because a lot of people who are at risk for heart problems are also prone to weaker bones, known as osteoporosis.
A Wide Range of Risk Factors
The research identifies various risk factors that include age, being male, smoking, drinking alcohol, irregular heart rhythms (known as atrial fibrillation), high blood pressure medications, previous heart attacks or strokes, existing heart problems, low kidney function, high systolic blood pressure, high cholesterol, and taking multiple medications at the same time.
Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, MD, Ph.D., from the University of Oxford, who led the study, mentioned that while there are calculators to estimate heart disease risk, none are aimed at those who are also at high risk for fractures.
He said, “To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify cardiovascular disease risk factors for osteoporotic individuals using data that is routinely collected and readily available.”
Bridging the Gap: Heart and Bone Health
What makes this study stand out is its focus on people with osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones weaker and more prone to fractures.
By looking at the same factors that affect heart health, researchers found that these can also be critical in evaluating bone health.
This information can be a game-changer, as it is usually collected during regular check-ups and is easy to access.
Implications and Next Steps
So, what does this all mean? If you’re keeping an eye on your heart health, you might also want to think about your bones.
Health care professionals can now use this broader range of factors to better identify people who are at higher risk for both heart diseases and fractures.
The study encourages people and doctors to take a more comprehensive approach to health. It’s not just about the heart or the bones; it’s about the whole person.
And since many of these risk factors can be controlled or managed, there’s a lot that can be done to lower risks on both fronts.
In summary, this new research opens up new paths for preventing not just heart diseases but also fractures related to osteoporosis.
It’s a call to look at health in a more interconnected way and to make better use of information that is already easily available.
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The study was published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
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