Tools to Help Women Take Charge of Their Bone Health
Osteoporosis, also known as porous bone disease, is a silent disease; often the first symptom is a broken bone. It poses a serious risk to older, post-menopausal women, although men can develop the disease also. Ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and 34 million suffer from osteopenia or low bone mass, which increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. The aging of the baby boomer generation will boost these numbers to 52 million by 2010.
In fact, one in three American women will have a spinal fracture due to the disease and one in six will fracture her hip. |
“Osteoporosis is a serious disease that affects millions of older women,” said Daniel Perry, executive director of the
Risk factors include a family history of osteoporosis, being thin or small-framed, a diet low in calcium and vitamin D, smoking, and an inactive lifestyle.
Women Share their Stories
“I thought it was something that wouldn’t happen at my age,” says Dee Suarez, who was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2007 at the age of 42.
“I was lucky not to have fallen down. I should have checked on it sooner,” says Patte Dee McKee, age 71, whose mother and grandmother both had the disease. She was diagnosed three years ago at age 68.
Effective communication between women and their health care professionals is a key factor in improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. |
Both women are featured in the video along with Dr. John Kaufman, an expert on the disease, who says, “The goal of all treatment is to prevent a fracture.” A woman’s risk of hip fracture from osteoporosis is the same as her combined risk of getting breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. In fact, one in three American women will have a spinal fracture due to the disease and one in six will fracture her hip. Osteoporosis results in more than 1.5 million fractures each year which cost $18 billion for direct care.
Online Treatment Quiz
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The video includes helpful information on preventing and treating osteoporosis, as well as managing the disease and living a full and healthy life. The video looks at the risk factors, diagnosis by bone density testing, and prevention and treatment through diet, exercise and drug therapy.
For more information about prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, visit the following websites:
The 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis