WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS MAY SURPRISE YOU

The more you know about osteoporosis,the better prepared you'll be to take charge of keeping your bones healthy.

The following information will shatter some myths about osteoporosis. Once you are armed with the facts about this disease, you will be able to take the steps necessary to maintain healthier bones.

DID YOU KNOW?  Osteoporosis is not a natural part of aging.

FACT  Throughout your life, your body keeps your bones strong and healthy by replacing old bone with new bone. Osteoporosis causes more bone to be removed than the body can replace. When this happens, the bones become thinner and more likely to fracture. The good news is osteoporosis is a preventable - and treatable - disease. By taking proactive steps to help maintain healthy bones, and by asking your doctor about treatment options, you can stop further bone loss and increase bone mass.

DID YOU KNOW?  You could have Osteoporosis and not know it.

FACT  Osteoporosis, often called "the Silent Thief" because you "might not even know it is robbing you of bone mass,until you sulfer a fracture as the result of Weakened bones. Or you notice that your spine is beginning to Curve. Because you can't see bone loss, you should talk to your doctor about a bone density test.

DID YOU KNOW?  When you have osteoporosis, you don't have, to fall down to fracture a bone.

FACT  If osteoporosis has made your bones weak, you could suffer a spinal fracture from lifting your grandchild - or, you could break a wrist or hip from just a gentle fall. If you're at risk for fractures, your doctor may recommend that you take a prescription medication to reverse bone loss and make your bones more fracture resistant.

DID YOU KNOW?  You could have a fracture and not even know it.

FACT  Bones of the spine can fracture without: causing pain and, often, when the fracture does cause pain, it can be mistaken for arthritis.

Over time, undetected spinal fractures can cause you to become shorter and develop a curved back, a deformity known as "owager's hump."

If you have back pain,it's important to find out if the cause of your pain is osteoporosis so that it can be properly treated.

DID YOU KNOW?  Women in their 70's or 80's aren't the only ones who need to worry about fractures.

FACT  Even women in their 50s or 60s can have fractures because of osteoporosis. In fact, one woman in nine between the ages of fifty (50) and fifty-nine (59) has a spinal fracture. Some of these fractures occur without a fall or other accident, and some spinal fractures happen without causing any pain, so they may go unnoticed.

Percentage of women over 50 who have had a spinal fracture:

50-59 years of age 11% l out of 9 women
60-69 years of age 15% l out of 7 women
70-79 years of age 32% l out of 3 women
80-89 years of age 53% l out of 2 women
90 years of age 75% 3 out of 4 women

DID YOU KNOW?  Calcium, vitamin D, and exercise may not be enough to protect you from bone loss and fractures.

FACT  You can still lose bone and fracture even when you're doing everything you can to maintain healthy bones. Only your health care professional can tell you if you need a prescription medication in addition to exercising and maintaining a healthy diet.

Now that you know some of the facts about osteoporosis, it's time to take charge of your bone health. There are a number of factors that put you at risk for osteoporosis. Every woman past menopause may be at risk for osteoporosis. In fact, every year the risk of having an osteoporotic fracture is greater than the risk for either breast cancer, heart disease, or stroke. Also the long-term use of cortisone-type medicines (such as prednisone) can also cause osteoporosis in both men and women. Even if you eat a healthy diet rich in calcium and exercise every day - they may not be enough to protect you from bone loss and fractures.

ARE YOU AT RISK FOR OSTEOPOROSIS?

• Assess your risk
To assess your risk for osteoporosis,there are Bone Health Assessments throughout the country. To find out if Bone Health Assessments are scheduled in your area, call toll-free  1-866-BONE TEST,  or ask you doctor for his recommendation of a testing facility.

• Talk to your doctor
The only sure way to know if your bones are healthy is to see your doctor. More and more patients are actively participating in discussions and decisions about their health care. Ask your doctor to discuss your risk for osteoporosis.

• Get a bone density test
Ask your doctor about getting a bone density test - a fast, simple, and painless way to determine how healthy your bones are. The test measures bone mass and helps predict your risk for future fractures. If your bone mineral density is low, your bones may be fragile and at risk of breaking. The results of the test will help you and your health care professional decide the best course of action to take.

• Ask your doctor if prescription if medication is right for you
In many cases, prescription medication may be necessary to maintain healthy bones and prevent fractures. Your doctor can decide if medication is right for you.