How strong are your bones?

Could you be just another statistic – the one woman in four or the one man in eight affected by osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis can have serious consequences
• A woman has a one in six chance of fracturing a hip during her lifetime compared to a one in nine chance of getting breast cancer. 
• You may not even know you have osteoporosis until you break a bone.
• Up to 25 per cent of people who fracture a hip die as a result. Half of the survivors never walk unaided again.

The Osteoporosis Society of Canada
Taking care of your bones is a wise investment in your future quality of life. You can help the Osteoporosis Society of Canada spread the word about bone health by giving a copy of this osteoporosis test to your friends.

For medically accurate information about preventing or managing osteoporosis, log on to the OSC’s website at www.osteoporosis.ca. Be sure to check out the list of major and minor risk factors for osteoporosis as well as the connections to self-help groups and community resources.

The Osteoporosis Society of Canada, yo most important source of information on osteoporosis, values your assistance as a volunteer or through your financial donation. To find out how you can help, call our toll-free number today at 1-800-463-6842.

Take this 60-second osteoporosis risk quiz

1. Are you over 65?    Yes    No 

2. Has either of your parents broken a bone after a minor bump or fall?  Yes    No

3. Have you broken a bone after a minor bump or fall?  Yes   No

4. Have you taken glucocorticoid pills (cortisone, prednisone, etc.) for more than three months?  Yes   No

5. Have you lost more than 3 cm in height since age 25?  Yes   No

6. Do you have a tendency to fall? Yes   No

7. Do you have primary hyperparathyroidism?  Yes   No

8. Do you have a medical condition (such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease) that inhibits absorption of nutrients?  Yes   No

9. Has a recent x-ray suggested you have low bone density (osteopenia)?  Yes   No

For women:
10. Did you undergo menopause before age 45?  Yes   No

For men:
11. Have you ever suffered from impotence, lack of libido or other symptoms related to low levels of testosterone?  Yes   No

If you’re over 50 and have answered yes to any of these questions, the Osteoporosis Society of Canada recommends that you talk to your doctor about having a bone mineral density (BMD) test.

The questions in the 60-second quiz relate to major risk factors for the disease – strong predictors of bone loss. Other minor risk factors may also contribute to bone loss. Since these risk factors are additive, the more of them you have, the more likely you are to develop osteoporosis.

This Special Sponsored Feature was produced by the editors of 50Plus magazine and the Osteoporosis Society of Canada.