Looking back, one of the first clues my aunt was having a medical problem was her loss of height. Combine this with the fact that she didn't keep up with her daily calcium needs, and my aunt was a sitting duck for developing osteoporosis. My Aunt Laura was suffering with a disease that is possible to prevent and is now certainly treatable. The name of this bone-thinning condition is osteoporosis. This is a threat to more than 28 million American women, of which 10 million already have osteoporosis and more than 18 million have evidence of low bone mass, placing them at risk.
Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.
Sadly, a recent survey revealed almost 40 percent of women over the age of 45 have not discussed this condition with their health care professional. Also, it is estimated that at least one in three women over the age of 50 will suffer an osteoporosis related fracture in their lifetimes. One of the most common fractures occurs as a compression fracture of the spine, which can be painful and cause a deformity leading to changes in posture. Other bones commonly affected include the hip and wrist. As you get older, your bone strength tends to decrease.