OSTEOPOROSIS: HELP REDUCE THE RISK
One out of two women over age 50 will sustain an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility. It often progresses without symptoms until a fracture occurs, usually in the hip, spine or wrist.
Osteoporosis is surprisingly common in the U.S. In fact, one out of two women over age 50 will sustain an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime.
Osteoporosis generally affects middle-aged and older persons, especially those with a family history of bone fragility.
You may be susceptible to osteoporosis if you are:
- postmenopausal
- not consuming calcium-rich foods regularly
- from a family with a history of osteoporosis
- a thin, petite woman
- a smoker
- sedentary
- consuming more than two alcoholic beverages a day
It isn't just women.
That's right—in fact, more than 2 million men in the U.S. currently suffer from osteoporosis, including one-third of men over the age of 75. One in eight men over the age of 50 suffer fractures related to this disease. After age 65, hip fractures are often more serious in men than in women.
Warning signs in men include a change in posture and sudden back pain. However, the most common way osteoporosis is diagnosed in men is by a reduction in height or a fracture.
The good news? Everyone can take steps to decrease their chances of getting osteoporosis.
Eating a well-balanced diet, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, consuming adequate calcium and vitamin D from diet and supplements if needed, and doing weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, hiking and dancing may help reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis.
It's never too late to make a positive change for your health.
If you're in your 30s, having adequate calcium in your diet is especially important because bone mass peaks in your mid-30s and then slowly declines. The calcium in Caltrate can help support bone health at any age.*
BONE HEALTH CENTRAL
