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., 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. By the year 2010, it is estimated that over 52 million women and men in this same age category will be affected, and if current trends continue, the figure will climb up to over 61 million by 2020 according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Being Asian is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Having a thin, small boned frame (or low bone mass), low physical activity and low calcium intake also are risk factors. As much as 90% of Asian Americans may be lactose intolerant, therefore obtaining calcium from dairy products proves problematic. As a result of osteoporosis, vertebral or spinal fracture occurrence is high among Asian American women.
Source: National Osteoporosis Foundation
The mission of the Osteoporosis Education and Screening Program is to increase osteoporosis awareness in the Asian American community, reduce the number of Asian Americans that develop osteoporosis and improve data collection on prevalence of osteoporosis.
The goals of osteoporosis awareness are:
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity.
What are the symptoms of having osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse. Collapsed vertebrae may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as kyphosis or stooped posture.
What are the risk factors of osteoporosis?
How can osteoporosis be prevented?
By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass. Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later. There are five steps, which together can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis. They are:
National Asian Womens Health Organization, and
National Institutes of Health
Outreach and Education
The Asian American Health Initiative has collaborated with different community partners to conduct outreach events along with osteoporosis screening and education to different Asian population in Montgomery County. At outreach events, bone density screening and various translated education materials have been provided to community members to help them understand why it is important and how to prevent osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Prevention Postcards
Home Safe/Fall Prevention Posters
Ultrasound Bone Measurement Report Interpretation
|Normal||T-score -1 to +1 SD|
|Osteopenia||T-score - 1 to -2.5 SD|
|Osteoporosis||T-score -2.5 or less|
|Severe Osteoporosis||T-score -2.5 or less and fragility fracture|
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