Menopause and Osteoporosis Connection?

The loss of estrogen that occurs in menopause may result in long term, serious health consequences such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Overall, 28 million women in the United States are affected by osteoporosis, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Heart disease is now recognized as the number one cause of death among women and will develop in one out of every three women. As a result, menopause is the single biggest trigger point for wellness involvement by women over 40 years of age.

The risk of osteoporosis has received increased public and professional attention in recent years. Today, almost 30 million women in the U.S. are affected by osteoporosis or low bone mass. Just as importantly, the number of women entering age groups when osteoporosis occurs is rising twice as fast as the general population. Current statistics from the National Osteoporosis Foundation indicate that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and 34 million have low bone mass osteopenia, placing them at risk of osteoporosis. Overall, this is a disease of women: 80 percent of individuals with osteoporosis or osteopenia are women. 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture, as opposed to 1 in 8 men.