Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis Myths and Facts

Myth: Only women are affected by osteoporosis.

Fact:  Men get osteoporosis, too.  Women naturally have smaller, thinner bones than men, so they are at higher risk.  However, 20 percent of those affected by osteoporosis are men.  One in every four men and one in every two women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

Myth:  If I drink milk and take calcium supplements, I won’t develop osteoporosis.

Fact:   Getting enough calcium is important but that alone is not enough to prevent osteoporosis.

Myth:  Osteoporosis is a disease of the elderly.   Only older people need to worry about it.

Fact:   Osteoporosis is not a natural part of aging.  Prevention of osteoporosis should begin during your youth and young adult life.   The opportunity to build strong bones begins then.  Make these steps a part of your life:  a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D; weight-bearing exercise; a healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake; bone density testing and medications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis when appropriate.

Myth: There are no particular risk factors for osteoporosis other than age and being female.

Fact:    Age is a major risk factor, especially for those over 65.  But those with the following characteristics also are at risk:

• fair skin (Caucasian or Asian)
• small bone structure
• early menopause or post-menopausal
• family history of osteoporosis
• low body weight
• low-calcium diet
• inactive lifestyle
• excessive alcohol intake
• tobacco use
• eating disorders
• use of certain medications such as steroids or anticonvulsants

Talk to your health-care provider about your personal risk for osteoporosis.

Myth:  You can’t tell if you have osteoporosis unless you fall and break a bone.

Fact:   A bone density test can give your health-care provider important information about the strength of your bones and your risk for fracturing a bone in the future.  The bone densitometer uses small amounts of X-ray to measure the amount of bone mineral and this relates directly to bone strength.

Myth:  A bone density test is painful and complicated.

Fact:   This is a simple and comfortable exam.  A bone densitometer looks like a large, padded exam table and measures bone density by using a small amount of radiation.  You lie on your back, and a scanner passes over your spine and hip area.  The test is painless and takes less than 10 minutes.