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Tips To Prevent Osteoporotic Fractures

May 2004 (Newstream) -- About 40 percent of women ages 50 and older will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetimes. 1.5 million osteoporotic fractures occur in the United States each year -- with 80 percent occurring in postmenopausal women. Yet shocking results from a new study conducted by Harris Interactive show that most women in this group are misinformed about the signs and the severity of these fractures. According to the study, only four percent of 1,000 women surveyed think that fractures are a sign of having osteoporosis.

Studies show that two thirds of spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis occur without any obvious symptoms, yet about 2 in three women surveyed believe spinal fractures are very painful. The survey also reveals that only two percent of women aged 50 and older report height loss as a potential consequence of spinal fracture, yet multiple spinal fractures can lead to height loss or a curved back with severe disease.

The annual number of osteoporotic fractures in women is greater than the combined number of heart attacks, strokes and cases of breast cancer. It's imperative that postmenopausal women pay more attention to their bone health.

Women can reduce their risk for fractures by:

• Eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• Taking calcium supplements
• Following a program of weight-bearing exercise
• Asking their physician about tests that can detect osteoporosis and medications that help stop bone loss and prevent fractures

The survey consisted of 1,002 U.S. women aged 50 and older to determine their knowledge of osteoporosis and the consequences of osteoporotic fractures.

For more information, go to www.helppreventfractures.com.

Produced for The Alliance For Better Bone Health
Contact:
Dulcie Kogut
Tel : 215-287-9311