If you think osteoporosis is an 'old lady' disease, think again. The truth is, osteoporosis can strike anyone of any age, sex or ethnic background at any time. It's time to bone up on basic facts about osteoporosis.
- Approximately 10 million Americans currently suffer from osteoporosis. Of these, 8 million are women.
- An additional 34 million people in the US have low bone mass and are at high risk for developing osteoporosis.
- More than half of the population over the age of 50 are walking around with osteoporosis and may not even know it.
- One in two women over age 50 will experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis.
- Within five to seven years after menopause, a woman can lose up to 20% of bone mass.
Osteoporosis has been dubbed "the silent disease" because it progresses slowly and usually remains undetected until a bone break or fracture occurs. In addition, osteoporosis can strike at any time, even in young people who may have compromised bone density due to taking asthma or arthritis medications for prolonged periods. In fact, age is only significant when you consider that it becomes more difficult to make new bone cells after age 35, sometimes leading to more dead cells than you can replace. And, while it's true that osteoporosis affects more women than men, at least one-quarter of all men in the US over 50 will face this degenerative disease during their lifetime.
Here's some good news: Osteoporosis is preventable. Even if you've already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, it's not too late to take steps to improve your condition. So, if you're ready to get a grip on your bone health and take a stand to prevent osteoporosis, you've come to the right place.
