Osteoporosis FAQs: Am I at risk?
BPT » As people age, they become more likely to develop osteoporosis, a disease that occurs when bones lose density and mass, which can cause bones to be brittle, weak and easily broken. During Osteoporosis Awareness Month, at-risk Americans are encouraged to take positive actions to monitor their bone health.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions, answers common questions about osteoporosis and shares more about a test that can help diagnose osteoporosis or determine if you might be at risk.
How common is osteoporosis?
An estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, which means they have an increased risk for osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). Studies suggest that approximately half of women and a quarter of men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is responsible for 2 million broken bones and 75,000 deaths every year.
Osteoporotic bone breaks most often occur in the hip, spine or wrist, but other bones can break too. Beyond significant, often permanent pain, these fractures can have many other consequences, including frailty and limited mobility, complications related to the broken bone itself or the surgery to repair it, and the necessity of long-term care and institutionalization.
How is it diagnosed?
Talking to your doctor will help ensure you get the test that may be needed to correctly diagnosis osteoporosis, which may be a simple bone mineral density (BMD) test like a DEXA scan. BMD tests can identify osteoporosis before a broken bone occurs and measure your response to osteoporosis treatment.
Should I get tested?
The NOF recommends BMD tests for women age 65 or older and men age 70 or older. Osteoporosis is more common in women than men, and more common after menopause, so women should begin talking to their doctor about
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