Two in five women age 50 or older will suffer a fracture as a direct result of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. Most fractures occur in women age 65 or older.
Osteoporosis accounts for more than one million fractures a year in the U.S. alone.
Osteoporosis is not an inevitable part of aging. Factors that make a woman more vulnerable to osteoporosis include being Caucasian, having a thin frarne, leading a sedentary lifestyle, having a family history of the disease, suffering a previous fracture not caused by trauma, cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol. Discuss your risk factors with your VA healthcare provider. Ask him or her if you should get a bone-density test. Low-impact activities such as yoga and tai chi are especially helpful because they promote better balance, flexibility and coordination, which in turn reduces the risk of falls.