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Osteoporosis

Please print out our Osteoporosis Questionnaire.

Definition:  Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist.

Osteoporosis is a public health threat for more than 28 million Americans.  Ten million individuals already have the disease.  Eighteen million people have low bone density, placing them at risk for osteoporosis

• 80% of those affected by osteoporosis are women.
• 8 million women and 2 million men have the disease.
• 18 million people have low bone density.
• One out of two women (50%) above the age of 50 and 1 out of 8 men will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.
• Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually.
• An average of 24% of hip fracture patients age 50 and over die in the year following their fracture.
• Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the 5-7 years following menopause.
• Osteoporosis is often associated with being older, but it can strike at any age.

 Cost:  The estimated national direct expenditures for osteoporotic and associated fractures were $13.8 billion in 1995 ($38 million per day), and the cost is rising.

Symptoms:  Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease” because bone loss occurs without symptoms.  People may not know they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse.       
 
Risk Factors: Being female, thin or small frame, advanced age, a family history of osteoporosis, postmonopause, inactivity, soft drinks, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol use, use of corticosteroids and anticonvulsants, low testosterone levels in men, absence of periods, history of anorexia or bulemia.

Prevention:   By far the most cost-effective and safest route to take, a comprehensive program that can help prevent osteoporosis includes the following.

• A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• Weight-bearing exercise
• A healthy lifestyle with no smoking and limited alcohol intake.
• Early detection by bone density testing is very important

If you have more than 2 or 3 of the risk factors, you should have a bone mineral density test performed and take the appropriate pro-active steps to insure your good health.

Information derived from the National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center AND the National Osteoporosis Foundation

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