2 Fractures for Each Heart Attack

Friday is the Go Red For Women in Waterloo, sponsored by the American Heart Association.  Heart Disease is now recognized as a major health issue for women, as well as men.  Prevention of heart attacks and strokes gets a lot of attention.  Breast cancer is also well recognized.  These are worthy causes, but…..

Fractures from Osteoporosis are twice as common in women as heart attacks.  Fractures are more common than heart attacks, breast cancers and strokes combined.  More women die from complications after hip fracture than die from heart attacks.  This is also a big deal, but Osteoporosis gets no respect.

Most women have no idea they have heart disease until they have a heart attack.  They have no idea they have high blood pressure until they have a stroke.  They have no idea they have osteoporosis until they have a fracture.

Most women recognize a heart attack as a reason to check on their heart.  They recognize a stroke (brain attack) as a reason to check on blood pressure.  Unfortunately, few women (or men) recognize a fracture (bone attack) as a reason to check on their bone health.

Fracture = clinical osteoporosis in most people.  This is not the same as a DXA test result of “osteoporosis”.  Over 80% of the women who fracture have a DXA test result of “osteopenia”.

You should get a heart check-up to prevent heart attacks.  You should have your blood pressure evaluated to prevent strokes.  You should have your bone health evaluated to prevent fractures.

Take control of your future.  Get a complete bone health evaluation.

Jay Ginther, MD

Categorised in: Evaluation and Screening, Osteoporosis