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Included in this section
is background information about
osteoporosis,
statistics,
press releases
and 'osteoporosis in the news,' a review
of osteoporosis studies and related
articles in popular and scientific
publications. For more information on
past NOF activities, download the
2003
Annual Report and
2002
Annual Report. (pdf file requires
Acrobat Reader)
Osteoporosis progresses as a symptomless
disease characterized by bone loss and
deterioration of the skeleton, leading
to bone fragility and increased risk of
fractures. It is defined as about 25%
bone loss compared to a healthy young
adult or, on a bone density test, 2.5
standard deviations below normal.
Although everyone experiences some bone
loss with age, few people realize that
stooped posture (kyphosis), and loss of
height (greater than 1-2 inches), are
caused by vertebral fractures due to
osteoporosis.
PREVENTION
Osteoporosis is a
preventable disease for most people, if
they take the necessary steps throughout
their lives. Contrary to popular belief,
osteoporosis is not a disease of old
people, and if preventative steps are
not taken, bone loss occurs earlier in
life, long before symptoms of the
disease. Osteoporosis and low bone mass
are currently estimated to be a major
public health threat for almost 44
million US women and men aged 50 and
older. By the year 2010, it is estimated
that over 52 million women and men in
this same age category will be affected
and, if current trends continue, the
figure will climb to over 61 million by
2020.
A comprehensive
program that can help prevent
osteoporosis includes:
Prevention is
important at all ages, however, at the
time of menopause, these steps may not
be enough without estrogen therapy or
other osteoporosis-related medications
to protect from bone loss. With
menopause, women begin to lose bone mass
at an accelerated rate as their
estrogen
levels fall, and they can lose up to 20
percent of their bone mass in the five
to seven years following menopause,
placing them at increased risk for
osteoporosis.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT
We are in a new era of
preventing, detecting and treating this
disease. In the past decade, bone
density tests, painless diagnostic
tests, have become available, in
addition to several medications to
prevent and treat this disease.
Osteoporosis is highly preventable and
treatable, especially if caught early,
and people with
risk factors should ask
their doctor about a bone density test.
Click here for:
NOF
Press Releases
Facts and
statistics on osteoporosis - Fast
Facts
Legislative News
& Updates. |
