| What other disease do you know of that will affect | | | | Your doctor may recommend testing your bone |
| one out of every two women in their lifetime? | | | | density with a bone mineral density (BMD) test at |
| Osteoporosis can sneak up on women unless they | | | | regular intervals. Based on the results of this quick |
| are informed and actively working on prevention of | | | | and painless test, and your own medical history, your |
| this life threatening disease. Talking to your health | | | | doctor can develop a plan for prevention or |
| professional about the risks and ways to fight off | | | | treatment. You should ask your doctor how often |
| osteoporosis is the best place to start. | | | | you need to be tested. |
| Women of every age should be discussing | | | | If your doctor determines that you do have |
| osteoporosis with their doctors. Because a woman's | | | | osteoporosis, there are a number of different |
| bones are at their peak of strength at age 25, bone | | | | treatment options to discuss. These medications can |
| loss can begin as early as the twenties or thirties. | | | | slow or stop bone loss, so that you reduce your risk |
| Women can prevent bone loss and debilitating | | | | of a future fracture. |
| fractures by following the recommendations made by | | | | Ask your doctor about treating osteoporosis with |
| their doctors. | | | | estrogen and hormone replacement therapy. If you |
| Ask your doctor about risk factors for osteoporosis. | | | | are unable to take estrogen, you should know about |
| There are a number of factors that increase your | | | | Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). |
| risk of developing osteoporosis, and many women | | | | Your doctor might also recommend treating your |
| will have multiple risk factors. For example, a white | | | | osteoporosis with products like Fosamax or Actonel, |
| woman with a slim frame who smokes and does not | | | | which are biophosphonates. These treatments can |
| do any type of weight bearing exercise might appear | | | | significantly reduce the risk of a fracture, and can |
| healthy, but her risk of developing osteoporosis is | | | | even increase bone density. |
| greatly increased. If she doesn't get enough calcium | | | | Because osteoporosis is such an important health |
| and vitamin D in her diet, she is at even greater risk. | | | | issue, new research is constantly being done and new |
| She should talk to her doctor about some simple | | | | treatment options are becoming available. The |
| lifestyle changes that will reduce those risk factors. | | | | newest biophosphonate treatement is Reclast, which |
| Once you have determined how high your risk is for | | | | is an IV treatment that is only needed once a year. |
| developing osteoporosis, ask your doctor about | | | | Ask your doctor if this treatment is right for you. |
| ways to prevent bone loss. Through diet, | | | | Don't risk losing your healthy, active lifestyle to |
| supplements and exercise, you and your doctor can | | | | osteoporosis. It is essential for women to know the |
| develop a plan to keep your bones strong and | | | | facts about osteoporosis and prevent crippling |
| healthy. It is never too early to start a prevention | | | | fractures as they age. |
| plan. | | | | |