However, one out of five African-America women are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Detection Specialized tests called bone density tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body. Prevention Building strong bones, especially before the age of 35, can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis, and a healthy lifestyle can be critically important for keeping bones strong. Fractures The most typical sites of fractures related to osteoporosis are the hip, spine, wrist and ribs, although the disease can affect any bone in the body. Forty percent of all women will have at least one spinal fracture by the time they reach age 80.
Spinal osteoporosis is eight times more likely to afflict women than men.
A woman's risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. In 1991, about 300,000 Americans age 45 and over were admitted to hospitals with hip fractures. Osteoporosis was the underlying cause of most of these injuries. Individuals suffering hip fractures have a 5 to 20 percent greater risk of dying within the first year following that injury than others in their age group. Alendronate, a bisphosphonate, recently has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.