What is Osteoporosis?
Got milk?† If you didn't get enough as a youngster you may be at increased
risk for osteoporosis, a debilitating disease where bone is lost and fracture
risk increases.† We all know an Aunt Tillie who fell and had a hip fracture.†
What we don't always realize is that she may have had osteoporosis which caused
the fracture which caused the fall.† Most people don't know that after her hip
fracture, she has a one in five chance of dying within a year and a one in four
chance of being unable to live independently.
Inadequate calcium intake is only part of the osteoporosis story.† The greatest
risk for osteoporosis is estrogen loss, particularly for women going through
menopause.† In fact, osteoporosis is much more common in women than men.† Other
risk factors include lack of exercise, smoking, taking steroids or thyroid medication,
or any estrogen deficiency.
The good news about osteoporosis is that there are now several good treatments
and preventive measures in addition to estrogen, both hormonal and non-hormonal
options.† Get adequate calcium, exercise, eat properly, review your medications
with your physician, and consider be sure to have your bone density test as
recommended by your physician.† Early diagnostic testing is strongly recommended
for all women at risk.
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Created: 10/23/2001  - Donnica Moore, M.D.
Reviewed: 6/30/2003  - Donnica Moore, M.D.