Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease in which bones become fragile and become more likely to break. Most breaks occur in the spine, hip, and wrists. This disease can be prevented and treated with appropriate care. Osteoporosis affects people of all ages, men and women, and different races.

There are 10 million Americans that are estimated to have this disease and almost 34 million are estimated to have low bone mass. Of these 10 million, 8 million are women and 2 million are men.

Osteoporosis is responsible for 1.5 million fractures every year. Some of these fractures include: over 300,00 hip fractures, approximately 700,000 vertebra fractures, and approximately 250,000 wrist fractures.

Some risk factors for osteoporosis are: advanced age, being female, low calcium intake, estrogen deficiency, low bone mass, Vitamin D deficiency, inactive lifestyles, and anorexia. There are more risk factors and you can check them out at www.nof.org. If you have these risk factors or are concerned about osteoporosis, you can ask your doctor about a Bone Mineral Density Test. This test can help detect the disease, help predict the chances of fractures, and determine the rate of bone loss.

So how can you help prevent this disease? Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamin D and calcium. Lead a healthy lifestyle (no smoking or excessive drinking). Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about bone health and get tested or get appropriate medications if needed.

There is no cure for osteoporosis, but there are approved medications to help prevent and treat this disease. Talk to your doctor. For more information visit the website listed above.