Four out of every ten women are at risk for an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. Osteoporosis is a disease of low bone mass that is associated with the risk of increased fractures. While about 25 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis, 80% of them are women. Woman are at a higher risk than men are because they have 10-25% less total bone mass at age 35 than men. Women start out life with smaller, thinner bones than men. And the loss of bone in women rises sharply with the onset of menopause as the body begins producing less of the female hormone, estrogen. In early menopause, a woman’s annual rate of bone loss is about 3% compared to 1% for men.

Women at greater risk for developing osteoporosis include the following:

• Caucasian or Oriental
• Thin or petite body build
• Regular use of alcohol or soft drinks
• Cigarette smokers
• Early menopause
• Removal of ovaries
• Childless
• Inactive lifestyle
• Low dietary intake of calcium
• Heavy caffeine intake
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders

Osteoporosis can be detected through the use of a diagnostic tool called densitometry. Most women should be screened at one-to-two year intervals after reaching menopause (around age 50).

Osteoporosis is easier to prevent than treat. Some ways of preventing the progression of the disease are to develop healthy habits that include the cessation of smoking, increasing calcium intake, limiting the intake of soft drinks, and exercise. Talk to your physician for more information.