May is Osteoporosis Month.

Sue Holden, a technologist with the radiology department at Greene County Medical Center explains what osteoporosis is.  She says its a disease that deteriorates bones and makes them fragile.

Holden notes that this disease is associated more with the older generation and it affects 52 million Americans that are over the age of 50.

She states that the “silent thief” doesn’t have any signs or symptoms but there are a number of risk factors associated with osteoporosis.  Some of the controllable factors include an inactive lifestyle, smoking, consuming alcohol, losing weight and certain medications like some antacids can increase your likelihood of osteoporosis.

Holden points out the uncontrollable factors which are being over 50 years old, having a family history of the disease, being a female and going through menopause.  She adds that one-in-two women and one-in-four men over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

She makes a comparison of how common the disease can be for those over 50 years-old.

“Now a woman’s risk of breaking ahip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined.  And a man, aged 50 and older, is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer.”

Holden says some of the things people can do to help prevent osteoporosis are exercising, increasing calcium and vitamin D in your diet, eating green-leafy vegetables and salmon and taking certain medications can also help.  She suggests that you talk to your physician before you take any supplements or medications for osteoporosis.

Because there are no signs or symptoms of this disease, it has been linked to other diseases as well.

However, the Greene County Medical Center offers a dexa scanner that is the only tests to detect whether or not you have osteoporosis.  Call the medical center to schedule an appointment today.