Stop at One! Make Your First Break Your Last

WASHINGTON, DC (October 20, 2012) – In honor of World Osteoporosis Day, observed annually on October 20, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is joining the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) in its effort to raise awareness for osteoporosis and call the public to action to make the first break the last.

To better understand the impact of broken bones due to osteoporosis, consider the following facts:

1. Broken bones are no accident, but often a sign of osteoporosis - Each year millions of mostly older adults will suffer broken bones due to osteoporosis.
2. The first break is a warning sign - A person who has suffered a broken bone due to osteoporosis is twice as likely to break another bone if the condition is not diagnosed or treated. The first fracture is a clear warning sign that you are at high risk of suffering more broken bones in the future.
3. If you are over 50 and break a bone, get tested and get treated - If you are 50 years of age or older and break a bone, ask your doctor for a bone mineral density test.

Worldwide, osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million broken bones annually, resulting in a broken bone every 3 seconds.  In the U.S. alone, that’s two million broken bones due to osteoporosis annually and a broken bone every 20 seconds.

"Even with two million bone breaks occurring each year due to osteoporosis, the sad reality is only two in 10 patients with initial bone breaks get a follow-up test or treatment for osteoporosis,” said Amy Porter, CEO and Executive Director, National Osteoporosis Foundation. “NOF is the founding partner of the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) and a proud supporter of the 2Million2Many (www.2million2many.org) campaign that aims to break the fracture cycle by issuing a simple call to action: if it’s 50 + fracture, request a test for osteoporosis.”

One in two women over age 50 will suffer a bone break caused by osteoporosis in their lifetime, as will up to one in four men. In fact, the number of bone breaks per year caused by osteoporosis exceeds the incidence of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined. 

World Osteoporosis Day is the perfect time to remind the public about the importance of eating a healthy diet and getting appropriate exercise to build and maintain strong bones for life.  Follow the five steps below to reduce your chance of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis:

1. Get the calcium and vitamin D you need every day.
2. Do regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise.
3. Don’t smoke and don’t drink too much alcohol.
4. Talk to your healthcare provider about your chance of getting osteoporosis, and ask when you should have a bone density test.
5. Take an osteoporosis medicine when it’s right for you.

Learn more about osteoporosis and how you can protect against it at www.nof.org.

About the National Osteoporosis Foundation 

Established in 1984, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, a leading community-focused health organization, is dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones, the promotion of strong bones for life and the reduction of human suffering through programs of awareness, education, advocacy and research. For more information on the National Osteoporosis Foundation, visit www.nof.org.

About IOF

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world’s largest nongovernmental organization devoted to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases.  IOF members—including committees of scientific researchers, patient, medical and research societies, and industry representatives from around the globe—share a common vision of musculoskeletal health without fragility fractures.  IOF now represents more than 200 societies in all regions of the world. http://www.iofbonehealth.org