Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

House members got a briefing Thursday on the dangers faced by 44 million Americans from osteoporosis, the disease that turns bones brittle and leads to 1.5 million fractures a year.

Half the women over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture before they die, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). These broken bones, or fractures, generally occur in the hip, spine and wrist. Women aren't the only ones at risk. One in four men over 50 will succumb to the disease.

The disease is preventable, even reversible, when detected early, but there is no cure.

The sizeable U.S. elderly population, combined with aging boomers, puts a "a larger percentage" of individuals at risk of osteoporosis, said Richard Schmitz, director of communications for the Society of Women's health Research. The society, along with the NOF, sponsored the briefing to discuss osteoporosis prevention and treatment as part of National Osteoporosis Awareness Month.

At the briefing, actress Sally Field, who has battled the disease, called on women in Congress to spread the word about bone health. 

"Osteoporosis and low bone mass is a national health issue, threatening more than 44 million Americans age 50 and older," said Ms. Field, the ubiquitous spokeswoman for a public awareness campaign sponsored by drug makers Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, which developed the osteoporosis drug Boniva. While there is no cure, some medications approved by the Federal Drug Administration for postmenopausal women to treat osteoporosis. And lifestyle changes can help prevent the disease.

No Bones About It
Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures a year, including 300,000 hips; approximately 700,000 vertebrae; 250,000 wrists; and 300,000 fractures at other sites, according to NOF.  A big concern is that fractures affect an individuals' quality of life. For example, women with a hip fracture are at a four-fold greater risk of a second one, according to NOF.

To help detect osteoporosis, bone mineral density (BMD) tests can check various parts of the body. The test can spot osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, predict chances of future fractures,  and calculate rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment.

Generally speaking, any woman 65 or older should have at least one bone density test, and based on the outcome, the doctor can advise whether its necessary to repeat, Mr. Schmitz said. But even woman as young as 40 should begin a dialogue with their doctor whether they are at heightened risk for fractures as they age and when bone density testing might be appropriate, he added. Medicare reimburses for BMD testing every two years.

While building strong bones during childhood helps stave off osteoporosis later, there are steps adults can take to maintain healthy bones, according to NOF. This includes a balanced diet with lots of calcium and vitamin D. It's recommended that woman over 50, for example, take in 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. Aside from supplements, men and woman are advised to stop no smoking and avoid excessive alcohol intake. More prevention tips can be found at BoneHealth.com and NOF.org.