| Myth #1- Osteoporosis is a part of aging and is | | | | have osteoporosis do not even realize they have it |
| unavoidable. | | | | or are even at high risk for this condition until they |
| The truth is osteoporosis is largely preventable. | | | | suffer a fracture caused due to a fall or from doing |
| Osteoporosis prevention steps, if continuously taken | | | | some perfectly ordinary activity. By this time they |
| from early childhood through the various stages of | | | | are already suffering the consequences of advanced |
| life can help avoid the onset of osteoporosis later in | | | | osteoporosis. Spine, hip and wrist fractures are most |
| life. The best steps to prevent osteoporosis include a | | | | common. Smokers and people who are very thin or |
| vitamin D and calcium-rich diet, weight bearing | | | | those who have a family history of osteoporosis are |
| exercise and healthy lifestyle with no smoking and | | | | more prone to developing this condition. |
| limited alcohol intake. | | | | Myth # 4- Osteoporosis is not something to worry |
| Myth #2- Osteoporosis only affects older, Caucasian | | | | about |
| women | | | | The repercussions of osteoporosis are as painful as |
| The truth is men as well as women of all races can | | | | they are devastating. Hip fractures, which are a |
| develop osteoporosis at any age. It can be brought | | | | common consequence of osteoporosis very often |
| on by medications such as glucocorticoids that are | | | | result in death due to complications such as blood |
| used to treat arthritis and asthma. These medications | | | | clots in the lung or pneumonia that are associated |
| can precipitate bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. | | | | either directly with the fracture with the surgery |
| Myth # 3- Anybody who has osteoporosis, knows | | | | undertaken to repair the fracture. Almost 25 % of |
| they have it | | | | people who survive a hip fracture will need long-term |
| Osteoporosis has often been called the 'silent disease' | | | | nursing care. And about 50% will have great difficulty |
| because over time, it progresses slowly without any | | | | in moving about or walking. |
| symptoms until a fracture occurs. Most people who | | | | |