Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones to become thin and brittle. The loss of bone mass increases the risk of fractures. The most common sites of fractures are the wrist, spine and hip. The disease afflicts an estimated 10 million Americans, mostly elderly women, although men and younger women can get the disease. Older women are at an increased risk for osteoporosis because at the time of menopause, the loss of estrogen causes rapid loss in bone density.
Osteoporosis is a serious health problem.
In fact, for older women, the risk of dying from a hip fracture is equal to the risk of dying from breast cancer. The good news is that osteoporosis can be detected easily with a bone density study called a DEXA scan. There are now many medical treatments available both for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis including diet, exercise and medication. These preventive measures can greatly decrease the risk of osteoporosis. If you're a postmenopausal woman over age 50, please complete the following quiz to assess your risk for osteoporosis.