Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans or 55 percent of the people 50 years of age and older. In honor of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, Medical West Hospital hopes to educate the community about this debilitating disease.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist. Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse.
Of the 10 million Americans estimated to have osteoporosis, eight million are women and two million are men. Significant risk has been reported in people of all ethnic backgrounds. While osteoporosis is often thought of as an older person's disease, it can strike at any age.
By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass. Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later. There are five steps, which together can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis. They include a balanced diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, exercise, a healthy lifestyle, talking to one's healthcare professional about bone health, and bone density testing.
Early diagnosis of osteoporosis is very important. Specialized tests called bone mineral density (BMD) tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body. A BMD test can detect the disease before a fracture occurs, predict changes of fracturing in the future, and determine the rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment. Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, there are several medications approved by the FDA for postmenopausal women to prevent and/or treat the disease.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Medical West physician, please call 996-WEST.