Fast Facts on Osteoporosis

? 8 million Americans?including 2 million men?suffer from osteoporosis.

? A family history of low bone density is a risk factor for osteoporosis.

? A woman has a five times higher risk of having low bone density if her mother has low bone density. For men, the risk is four times higher if his father has low bone density.

? Women typically lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the 5 to 7 years following menopause.

? Best way to protect yourself from this loss: Take 1,200 mg of calcium a day and do regular weight-bearing exercises, reports the National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disease National Resource Center.

Source: Natural Health Magazine, March 2002