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What is Osteoporosis? |
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- The Silent Disease
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility. It progresses without symptoms or pain until a fracture occurs, usually in the hip, spine or wrist. It can lead to pain, disability and, in some cases, even death. 1 out of 2 women will sustain an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. A woman's risk of developing an osteoporosis-related fracture is equal to her combined risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.
- You may be susceptible to osteoporosis if you:
- Are a postmenopausal woman.
- Have a calcium-deficient diet.
- Have a family history of osteoporosis.
- Are a thin, petite woman.
- Smoke.
- Are sedentary.
- Drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages a day.
- You can decrease your chances of osteoporosis
Several lifestyle choices can help to reduce your chances of suffering this disease. Eating a well-balanced diet, cutting down on cigarettes and excessive alcohol, supplementing your diet with calcium supplements and participating in weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, biking, hiking, rowing and jumping rope can all reduce your chances of osteoporosis.
- Men are also susceptible to osteoporosis
Although osteoporosis mainly affects women, 400,000 men in Canada suffer from osteoporosis. In fact, 1 in 8 men over the age of 50 suffer fractures related to this disease. Warning signs in men include a change in posture or sudden back pain. However, the most common way osteoporosis is diagnosed in men is by loss of height or a fracture.
After age 65 to 70, men and women lose bone mass at about the same rate. While hip fractures in this age group are more common in women, they are often more serious in men. Men have a 26% higher death rate within a year after a hip fracture than women.
- It's Never Too Late For Caltrate
A common misconception among women worried about osteoporosis is that they may be past the age when taking Caltrate would be helpful. It's never too late for Caltrate.
Scientific studies have shown that even mature postmenopausal women can benefit from greater calcium intake. In fact, in a clinical trial, Caltrate significantly reduced the risk of repeat vertebral fractures for postmenopausal women aged 66-80.*
- It's Never Too Early for Caltrate
If you're on the go and don't eat a balanced diet, Caltrate is the perfect way to insure that your body gets the calcium it needs.
In fact, if you're in your 30s, having more calcium in your diet is especially important to your health. That's because bone mass peaks in your mid 30s and then slowly declines with age. The calcium in Caltrate can help slow down this bone loss.
What's more, Caltrate is ideal for pregnant women even if they are taking a typical prenatal vitamin. While prenatal vitamins provide a full range of nutrients, they usually don't provide the 1200 mg of calcium pregnant women need daily.
*Source: Recker, R.R., Hinders, S., Davies, K.M., Heaney, R.P., Stegman, M.R., Lappe, J.M., and Kimmel DB. "Correcting Calcium Nutritional Deficiency Prevents Spine Fractures in Elderly Women." J Bone Miner Res. 1996; 11:1961-1966.
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