Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that is described as having low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue. It currently affects approximately 10 million Americans, while another 34 million are estimated to be at increased risk for the disease. That’s 55 percent of people 50 years or older! But don’t think of osteoporosis as an "old person’s disease" – it can strike at any age. The vast majority of those affected with osteoporosis are women. Assess your risk of developing osteoporosis.

Although there is no cure after the onset of osteoporosis, you may minimize your risk of developing the disease by following these five steps recommended by the National Osteoporosis Foundation:

• Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D
• Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise (for example, jogging, dancing or weight training)
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
• Talk to your health care provider about bone health
• When appropriate, have a bone density test and take medication

Additional resource

National Osteoporosis Foundation

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