A Public Health Threat: Osteoporosis

One in every 3 women and 1 in every 12 men will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis sometime during their lives.  While fractures can be treated, they often lead to serious consequences that can affect one's life permanently--for example: 20% of individuals that have had a hip fracture due to

osteoporosis die within 1 year of getting the fracture 33% of individuals who have an osteoporosis-induced hip

fracture are not longer able to care for themselves.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by the loss of the normal density of bone, resulting in fragile bone. Osteoporosis leads to literally abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone causing an increase in the risk for breaking bones (bone fracture). The spine, hips, and wrists are common areas of bone

fractures from osteoporosis, although osteoporosis-related fractures can also occur in almost any skeletal bone.

                           

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis According to estimated figures, osteoporosis was

responsible for more than 2 million fractures in 2005, including approximately:

297,000 hip fractures 547,000 vertebral fractures 397,000 wrist fractures 135,000 pelvic fractures 675,000 fractures at other sites http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm

Osteoporosis Risks Participating in weight-bearing exercises, such was walking,

jogging, and weight-lifting can help increase bone density Overtraining can decrease estrogen levels in females, which

can lead to weak bones Every day that you do not ingest enough calcium your body

pulls it from your bones to use in daily cell functions--so your bones will continue to grow weaker with continual calcium deficiency. The recommended amount is 1,000-1,200 mg or more a day for adults and 1300 mg for 9-18 year olds).

For every soda consumed, a person should add about 100 mg of additional calcium because the phosphates in soda bind with calcium so that it cannot be absorbed by the body.

Osteoporosis Athletes with a calcium intake above 120% of the

RDA are less likely to have stress fractures. Even consuming 87% of the recommended levels

is not sufficient and may put an athlete at risk for injury.

Sources of calcium: milk, cheese, yogurt, spinach, orange juiced fortified with calcium, almonds, broccoli, tofu, and calcium supplements.

How much milk a teenager would need to drink in order to get the necessary amount of calcium per day: