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Myths About Osteoporosis

Everyone should be concerned about protecting themselves against the bone-thinning disease called osteoporosis. This progressive and irreversible disease weakens bones so much that even a bump or a fall can cause painful, debilitating fractures of the hip, spine and wrist.

One out of two women and one out of five men is at risk of developing osteoporosis during their lifetime. Yet, common myths about the disease keep many people from taking steps to prevent and treat osteoporosis.

Myth: Osteoporosis Is Not Serious

Many people believe that osteoporosis is not serious enough to worry about," says Sandra C. Raymond, executive director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). "Yet, chronic pain and disability are lasting effects of osteoporosis which can permanently change the way you live, work and enjoy your free time," says Raymond.

A recent Gallup survey on osteoporosis showed that only 15 percent of women polled knew that broken bones can result from the disease; only 18 percent knew that hip fractures are an effect of the disease and only six percent realized that osteoporosis can result in death.

In fact, osteoporosis results in 1.5 million bone fractures each year and leads to 50,000 deaths annually due to hip fractures.

Myth: Healthy People Are Not At Risk

Osteoporosis is a "silent" disease that can weaken bones without your even knowing it. A person can look and feel perfectly healthy, do the right things, such as exercising and eating a calcium-rich diet, and still be at risk for osteoporosis.

Many women understand that good health habits can protect against osteoporosis. Yet, not enough women are aware of other important risk factors. For example, the Gallup survey showed that only 40 percent of women knew that if a family member such as a mother, sister, aunt or grandmother had osteoporosis, their own risk increased. Similarly, only one in four knew that having a slender build increases the risk for developing the disease, while one in two women knew that beginning menopause at an early age is a risk factor.

"Your doctor and the National Osteoporosis Foundation can help you learn more about what factors place people at risk for osteoporosis and what you can do to preserve bone strength and prevent bone loss," says Raymond.

Myth: Young People Need Not Worry About Osteoporosis

"Young people need to get a head start to protect themselves against osteoporosis early in life," says Robert Lindsay, M.D., NOF president. "Osteoporosis doesn't just happen to older people, it gets started years, or even decades earlier."

Bone is living, growing tissue which is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. Normally during youth, bone strength increases. Then, between ages 25 and 35 peak bone mass is reached. After that time, all individuals lose bone because more bone tissue is removed than is replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when bone loss is excessive.

"Women need to take particular care to build bone strength throughout their early adult lives, because after they reach menopause bone loss dramatically increases," says Dr. Lindsay. "At menopause, a woman's body produces less estrogen, a hormone that slows bone loss and improves calcium absorption. A woman can lose as much as 50 percent of bone mass during the first five to seven years following menopause."

Myth: Once Osteoporosis Develops, Nothing Can Be Done

Many people do not realize that it's never too late to slow or stop further loss of bone. Twenty percent of women polled in the Gallup survey thought that nothing could be done to prevent and treat osteoporosis. But, in fact, medical research shows that prevention and treatment regimens like estrogen and calcitonin can help prevent further bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures, at any age.

"You can take different steps, at different times during your life to protect yourself against osteoporosis," says Dr. Lindsay. "Your doctor can recommend a diet and exercise program and may prescribe medication to help prevent further bone loss and help you to preserve an active lifestyle and avoid the consequences of osteoporosis."

For more information about osteoporosis, or to receive NOF's new brochure, "Stand UP to Osteoporosis," call toll-free, 1-800-223-9994, or write to: National Osteoporosis Foundation, Department MY, 1150 17th Street, N.W., #500, Washington, D.C. 20036-4603.