Three Little-Known Facts About Osteoporosis
Everyone-and that means everyone-is at risk for osteoporosis as they age, according to Theresa A. Guise, M.D., the director of the Osteoporosis Metabolic Bone Disease clinic of the University of Virginia Health System and the Gerald D. Aurbach Professor of Endocrinology. "It's a silent disease," Guise explains. "There are no symptoms until you have a fracture, and once you have one, your risk for future fractures is much higher."
Women in particular need to protect their bone health-half of women over 50 will have an osteoporotic fracture. But did you know ...
1. Men and younger women get osteoporosis too. In our Spring issue, learn an astonishing statistic on how many men will suffer a bone fracture from osteoporosis.
2. Bone loss can result from more than just a lack of dairy in your diet. Find out what common medications can contribute to bone loss and other risk factors that you can control and those you can't.
3. Preventing and treating osteoporosis takes a multidisciplinary approach. Learn why UVa's bone experts who specialize in endocrinology often team up with cancer and organ transplant experts and physical therapists when treating osteoporosis.
This story will appear in the Spring issue of Vim & Vigor. If you're not already receiving it at home, subscribe now. It's free.