Dr. Yvonne Karney MD: Functional Gynecologist & Hormone Locksmith

To ensure healthy aging and maintain strong bones, it’s essential to adopt a multi-faceted approach. Finding knowledgeable and supportive functional medicine practitioners can also make a significant difference in your health journey. Additionally, lifestyle interventions like adequate protein intake, movement, vitamin D supplementation, reducing inflammation, and hormone optimization are key elements.

Dr. Yvonne Carney points out that medications like Fosamax can have long-term adverse effects, such as atypical femur fractures and osteonecrosis of the jaw. While these medications may improve bone density on x-rays, they don’t necessarily enhance bone function or strength. It’s critical to focus on functional medicine approaches that look at overall body function rather than just improving bone density.

Inflammation can accelerate bone loss, and chronic inflammation in the body impacts bone remodeling negatively. Factors such as prolonged stress and certain medications, like steroids, contribute to increased inflammation. Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, practicing regular exercise, and managing stress can help mitigate inflammation and support better bone health.

Bioidentical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones naturally produced by the human body, leading to better efficacy and fewer side effects. Non-bioidentical hormones, like premarin and medroxyprogesterone acetate, are not identical to human hormones and can cause varied effects, including a higher risk of adverse outcomes. Bioidentical hormones provide a safer and more effective option for hormone replacement therapy.