May 2002 -- Osteoporosis is a silent disease with no external symptoms. The growing concern over osteoporosis has even reached our nation's capitol. Congresswoman Connie Morella (R-MD) has passed and is working on additional legislation targeting osteoporosis awareness and prevention.

Twenty million Americans are considered at-risk for developing osteoporosis and ten million have it. It's a condition that is characterized by weak bones that become easily broken or fractured. Spinal fractures are common among individuals afflicted with osteoporosis. People who suffer from the condition, especially those with multiple fractures, are easily identified by their 'hunched-over' posture. The major concern is that most people don't realize they have the condition until they have a fracture. Osteoporosis causes more than 700,000 spine fractures each year, in the United States alone.

The most at-risk segment of the population is women that are near menopause women. After menopause the risk continues to grow. While men are at risk women are four times more likely to develop the condition. Ninety-percent of the population over the age of ninety will develop osteoporosis.

The only way to know for sure if you have osteoporosis is to have a bone density scan. It's a non-invasive painless test that measures bone mass. The scan can detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, predict your chances of fracturing in the future, determine your rate of bone loss and monitor the effects of treatment if the test is conducted annually.

Hyperthyroidism, family history, low calcium and vitamin-D intake, smoking, drinking, having a smaller stature, a fair complexion, frequent or fad dieting and even some medications (steroids, blood thinners, & seizure medicines) can increase your risk of bone loss and osteoporosis. (Note: There is a controversy over whether taking thyroid medication can also contribute to loss of low bone density. For more information, see: The Thyroid Treatment/Osteoporosis Controversy.)

The loss of bone density is a natural occurrence in aging. Since peak bone mass is reached between 25 and 35 years of age, the best prevention of osteoporosis begins in childhood. It's never too late to prevent osteoporosis and build strong or stronger bones.

Having sufficient (400 International Units daily) levels of vitamin-D and calcium (1200 International Units daily), weight-bearing exercise, quitting smoking, drinking only in moderation and avoiding frequent body weight changes all can help prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.