We've made significant progress in preventing, diagnosing and treating osteoporosis, yet many women still fail to take adequate steps to protect themselves from the disease and its debilitating effects. The newly issued public health advisory suggests that in addition to educating themselves about osteoporosis and assessing personal risk with their doctors, women also should ask their physicians about the need for a bone density measurement test, the only currently available means to assess the state of the bones and potential risk for future fractures. Although highly accurate in predicting fracture risk, bone density measurements are underutilized perhaps because, as this new research points out, women may be waiting for symptoms before taking the risk of osteoporosis seriously. In general, six in ten women think that osteoporosis has warning signs or symptoms when in fact, the disease progresses without signs or symptoms until a fracture occurs. In addition, half of the women surveyed indicated they believe there are similar treatment approaches for arthritis and osteoporosis, although the treatments are vastly different.
Osteoporosis is characterized by the exaggerated loss of bone mass and by poor bone quality.
Over time, bones become fragile and susceptible to fractures. Arthritis, on the other hand, affects the joints and surrounding tissue. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common forms of arthritis and are entirely separate conditions from osteoporosis. Yet, this new research shows that more than 40 percent of women think that osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are related diseases, possibly misled by the similar names. NOF urges the American public to take action against this debilitating disease by following the recommended steps outlined in the Public Health Advisory issued today.