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Family
History is key risk factor in developing
Osteoporosis
National Osteoporosis Foundation calls on Moms to address
bone health with Daughters
Of all the gifts that generations of women have passed on
to their loved ones, one of the most
important is the gift of knowledge about
health -- especially information about bone
health and osteoporosis.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is sponsoring
A Gift from Mothers to Daughters as the
theme for Osteoporosis Awareness and
Prevention this May to help break the cycle
of generations of women suffering from this
disease.
"An estimated one in two women age 50 and older will break
a bone from osteoporosis in their remaining
lifetime," said Leo Schargorodski, executive
director of NOF.
"Our goal is to provide parents information about bone
health and osteoporosis prevention, so they
can not only protect themselves, but also
influence the next generation to make
lifelong bone health a family tradition."
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak and
can break from a minor fall or, in serious
cases, from a simple action such as a
sneeze.
In the U.S. today, nearly 8 million women have osteoporosis
and millions more are at risk.
The World Health Organization and the U.S. Surgeon General
have joined NOF in declaring osteoporosis a
major public health issue for the nation.
In a 2008 survey, it was revealed that 40 percent of women
and 60 percent of men age 45 and older have
little or no concern about their bone
health.(1) Additionally, it has been
reported that nine out of 10 teenage girls
fail to get enough of the calcium they
need.(2)
"Bone health is a family issue, particularly
as genetics and heredity are among the key
factors that influence a person's risk of
developing osteoporosis," said Robert Recker,
MD, president of the National Osteoporosis
Foundation.
"However, there are many lifestyle choices
that families can make to help build strong
bones and prevent osteoporosis later in
life."
NOF encourages all individuals, young and
old, to eat a well-balanced diet rich in
calcium and vitamin D, exercise and be
active, and avoid smoking and drinking
alcohol.
Throughout the month of May, NOF is
collaborating with its network of healthcare
professionals and patient support groups and
reaching out to all Americans to encourage
family dialogue about bone health and
osteoporosis.
Visit
www.nof.org to download materials and
learn more about the events and activities
planned for Osteoporosis Awareness and
Prevention Month.
Celebrating 25 years of Standing Tall for
You(R), the National Osteoporosis Foundation
is the nation's leading voluntary health
organization solely dedicated to
osteoporosis and bone health.
Its mission is to prevent osteoporosis, to
promote lifelong bone health, to help
improve the lives of those affected by
osteoporosis and related fractures, and to
find a cure through programs of awareness,
education, advocacy and research.
For more information on osteoporosis and bone health,
contact NOF online at
www.nof.org or by telephone (800)
223-9994.
According to NOF prevalence estimates and
reinforced in Bone Health and
Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon
General, osteoporosis is a major public
health threat for an estimated 44 million
Americans, or 55 percent of the people 50
years of age and older.
In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals are estimated to
already have the disease.
Almost 34 million more people are estimated to have low
bone mass, placing them at increased risk
for osteoporosis.
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