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Osteoporosis...
- is a silent disease that occurs without any symptoms
- is a disease of the bone thinning and deterioration, which leads to a
substantial number of fractures of the wrist, hip and spine
- is a big problem -- in the U.S. alone, 10 million women have osteoporosis
and millions more have low bone density
Resources to help you:
Facts you should know:
- Peak bone mass occurs by age 30 in women and men
- Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the first 5-7 years after
menopause
- More than half who survive a hip fracture will need long-term care and 20%
do not survive the first year due to complications from that fracture
- A Bone Mineral Density test is the best test currently available to detect
osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
- It is preventable and treatable
Risk factors for osteoporosis (* primary risk factors):
- Cigarette smoking*
- Personal history of a non-traumatic fracture as an adult*
- Family history of osteoporosis or fractures in an adult family member*
- Small body size (less than 127 pounds)*
- Caucasian and Asian women
- Early menopause (less than 40 years old)
- Postmenopausal
- Over the age of 50
- Low lifetime intake of calcium and vitamin D
- Immobility or lack of adequate exercise
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Eating disorders
- Steroids used to treat asthma, arthritis and other conditions
- Taking seizure medications
- Excessive amount of thyroid hormone
What can I do?
- Women ages 19 until menopause should get 1000 mg of calcium each day, and
menopausal women 1200-1500 mg each day
- Get enough Vitamin D (400-800 IU each day)
- 30-60 minutes of weight bearing activity, 5-7 days a week and 10-15
minutes of strength training 2-3 days a week
- Stop smoking
- Cut down on caffeine
- Cut down on alcohol
- Consider medications for prevention and/or treatment, if appropriate
- Talk with your health care provider about whether a bone densitometry is
right for you
- Prevent falls
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