Protect bone health, prevent a silent disease





Osteoporosis is often called "the silent disease" because it progresses slowly over time, without symptoms, until a fracture occurs.


Many people continue to assume height loss is a normal part of aging. However, it may be due to a collapse in the bones of the spine, called vertebrae, weakened by osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) advises everyone to routinely monitor their height and talk to their healthcare provider if they notice a loss of more than an inch.


Patients often don’t realize they have osteoporosis or are even at risk until they suffer a fracture—most commonly of the hip, spine or wrist—after a fall or from doing ordinary activities. At this point, they have already suffered the consequences of osteoporosis.


Certain people are more likely than others to develop osteoporosis. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis include being female, having a personal history of fracture as an adult, current smoking, current low bone mass, being thin and/or having a small frame, advanced age or a family history of osteoporosis.


Many people do not have appropriate testing to determine if they have osteoporosis before, or even after, they fracture. As many as 95 percent of adults who break a bone are treated without being evaluated for osteoporosis.


Bone mineral density tests can measure the amount of bone in different parts of the skeleton and can predict the risk of future fractures.


Even if one has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, it’s not too late to take steps to protect one’s bone health, according to NOF. Consuming the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D, performing weight-bearing exercises and quitting smoking can help slow bone loss.


There are also several treatment options available to slow bone loss and even build new bone. A physician can advise the correct course of treatment for an individual.


For a complete listing of osteoporosis risk factors, please call NOF at (800) 223-9994. They can also provide more information on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.



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