Dr. Pedro I. Troya is one of the chief medical practitioners at At Bay Area Endocrinology Associates, located here in Tampa. Dr. Troya, a board-certified Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Physician, joins two other Doctors, Dr. Carlos Fumero and Dr. Sean Amirzadeah to complete the physician team of Bay Area Endocrinology Associates.

Dr. Troya treats a variety of medical diseases such as:

• Adrenal Disorders
• Diabetes Type 1 & 2
• Various types of Thyroidism
• Thyroid Cancers, Nodules, and Disorders
• Pituitary Disorders
• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
• Graves’ Disease, and other Thyroid related problems.

As a Thyroid Doctor, Dr. Troya is intimately familiar with diagnosing and treating any and all diseases related to Endocrinology, Diabetes, or Metabolism issues.

Osteoporosis Issues
One of the medical problems that Dr. Troya frequently treats is issues related to Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis literally means “porous bones, “a medical problem generally thought to be related to women over 50, but in actuality, a substantial percentage of men over 50 are affected as well.

The Main Problem
The main problem with Osteoporosis is that both men and women have a substantial risk of breaking a bone, which may not sound that alarming until it is pointed out that after a break in the hip bone, for example, 20 percent of all patients die within a year and 50 percent lose their mobility.

Thousands Affected
According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, one in every three women over age 50, and one in every five men over the age of 50 are subject to Osteoporosis. Dr. Troya points out the fact that upwards of 10 million people in the United States have Osteoporosis, and another 44 million have low bone density.

Risk Factors You Can Not Change
There are certain risk factors you can not change, and there are others that can be addressed. Risk factors that are unavoidable include:

• Your age: Men and women over 65 are at the most risk of bone fractures
• Your gender: Women are more at risk than men
• Your family history: Unfortunately, Osteoporosis is in part hereditary, so if your parents had a broken bone, you may also be at risk.
• Your own bone history: If you already have had a bone fracture, you are at risk for another.
• Hysterectomies and menopause: Women who have had a hysterectomy or experienced early menopause may be at greater risk.
• Certain medications: Ask your doctor, but certain medicines may put you at greater risk for Osteoporosis.
• Diseases: Certain diseases, including those of the endocrine system, may put you at greater risk of Osteoporosis.

Risk Factors You Can Control
Other risk factors are to a great percentage, under your control according to Dr. Toya.

These include:

• Excessive Drinking: Drinking over 2 units of alcohol a day can increase your risk of fractures
• Smoking: Smoking doubles your risk of hip fractures.
• Being significantly underweight: While people like to be slender, many older adults, particularly women, have a very low body mass. Unfortunately, a very low body mass can put you at risk of Osteoporosis.
• Poor nutrition: Not getting enough protein and in particular calcium, from fruits and vegetables and milk can definitely lead to premature bone loss.
• Not enough Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency for people not going outdoors or living in the Northern parts of the country can lead to premature bone loss.
• Lack of calcium: Calcium is a major factor in making bones strong, and a lack of calcium can lead to
  problems related to bone fractures.
• Frequent falls: If you have experience with frequently falling down, you should identify the problem before it leads to a bone fracture.

When should you get screened for Osteoporosis?
Dr. Troya recommends that all men and women get screened for bone loss and ascertain their risk factors if they are subject to any of the common risk factors, or simply that they are 65 or older. Dr. Troya says that a physician can ascertain your risks over the next 10 years of having a bone fracture, and with proper medicine and a healthy diet and lifestyle, your risks can greatly be reduced, or treated properly.

At Bay Area Encoronoligists, Dr. Troya has all the proper tools at his disposal to help ensure that you minimize your risks of experiencing any effects of Osteoporosis. Dr. Troya will work with you to create a custom program to prevent or minimize any of the potentially disastrous problems associated with Osteoporosis.