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Osteoporosis. Chances are … it could
be you.
National Osteoporosis
Foundation Launches New Educational
Campaign During National Osteoporosis
Awareness and Prevention Month
May 3, 2004 (Washington,
D.C) – With one in two women and one in
four men age 50 and older at risk for
osteoporosis-related fractures, the
National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF),
in support of Osteoporosis Awareness &
Prevention Month, is targeting consumers
and healthcare professionals with an
educational campaign titled,
“Osteoporosis. Chances are … it could be
you.”
Osteoporosis, or porous bone, a disease
characterized by low bone mass and
structural deterioration of bone tissue,
leads to bone fragility and an increased
susceptibility to fractures, affects 44
million American women and men over the
age of 50.* NOF prevalence estimates
show the number of women age 50 and
older who have osteoporosis or are at
risk for developing the disease will
increase from almost 30 million in 2002
to over 35 million in 2010.
“NOF’s campaign underscores the fact
that the disease does not discriminate
based on race, gender or age. We know
that women in particular do not perceive
themselves to be personally at risk for
osteoporosis. Even though they may be
aware of the disease, most women do not
relate that awareness to their own
risk,” said Judith Cranford, Executive
Director, National Osteoporosis
Foundation.
A recent survey conducted by Roper
Public Affairs and Media on behalf of
the National Osteoporosis Foundation
(NOF) found only 15 percent of women age
45 and older believed themselves to be
at risk, even though most had two or
more risk factors for osteoporosis. The
top risk factor cited for osteoporosis
among survey respondents was having
normal or early menopause. Other risk
factors – which increase the likelihood
for developing osteoporosis – were being
small boned or thin, having a family
history of osteoporosis, a history of
smoking, leading a sedentary or inactive
lifestyle and currently smoking
cigarettes.
NOF’s 2004 Osteoporosis Awareness &
Prevention Month materials include a
questionnaire for determining one’s risk
with a convenient detachable wallet card
containing prevention tips, poster and
an informative brochure, emphasize the
message, “Osteoporosis. Chances are … it
could be you.”
For people with osteoporosis, everyday
activities like picking up a newspaper,
lifting a child or tripping on a curb
can cause a broken bone, called a
fracture. Almost every bone in the body
can be affected, with fractures most
commonly occurring in the wrist, the hip
and the vertebrae of the spine. Pain,
loss of independence and, sometimes,
death can follow any osteoporotic
fracture.
NOF recommends to people of all ages
five simple steps to bone health and
osteoporosis prevention:
1. Get your daily recommended amounts of
calcium and vitamin D.
2. Engage in regular weight-bearing
exercise.
3. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol.
4. Talk to your doctor about bone
health.
5. Have a bone density test and take
medication when appropriate.
Additional information on National
Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention
Month, the recent survey cited above and
osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and
treatment is available on-line at
www.nof.org or by calling the Foundation
toll-free at (800) 223-9994
The National Osteoporosis Foundation
is the leading national nonprofit health
organization solely dedicated to
promoting lifelong bone health in order
to reduce the widespread prevalence of
osteoporosis and associated fractures,
while working to find a cure for the
disease through programs of research,
education and advocacy.
# # #
*America’s Bone
Health: The State of Osteoporosis and
Low Bone Mass in Our Nation. NOF, 2002.
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