As the population gets older, osteoporosis could become a bigger issue in the United States.
Saturday is World Osteoporosis Awareness Day and doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center are trying to get the word out and promote screenings for the disease.
Emily Carmody is the director of URMC’s osteoporosis clinic, and says many people have never been treated or screened and don’t know they have osteoporosis until they break something, so this is a push to get people evaluated to prevent secondary fractures.
"We treat right now about 300,000 hip fractures in the United States that are caused by osteoporosis."
Carmody says secondary fractures are risky because they increase the risk of mortality and decrease mobility.
She says 25% of women over age 65 have it and don’t even know it, so education is key to preventing and maintaining the disease.
"Make sure that folks are getting calcium and vitamin D, and the really educating the patients about what the medications are, what the potential side effects are, which are really quite low."
Carmody says they often fight misinformation about medications and their side effects.