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The Women's Center Osteoporosis
Clinic
What is osteoporosis?
The word osteoporosis literally means "porous bone." Osteoporosis
doesn�t cause the outer form of your bones to change, and it doesn�t affect
your joints like arthritis. With this disease, your bones become less
dense on the inside and more likely to break (fracture). A fall, a lifting
or twisting motion, or even a hug can easily break one or more of your
bones if you have osteoporosis!
Am I at risk?
If you are a 50 year-old woman, you have a 50-50 chance of suffering
a bone fracture related to osteoporosis during your lifetime. Eighty percent
of those affected by osteoporosis are women. But younger women and men
can also be at risk. The following factors can increase your risk of developing
osteoporosis:
- Being a woman
- Early menopause
- History of an eating disorder
- Lack of physical activity
- Being underweight
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Smoking cigarettes
- Excessive use of alcohol
What are the symptoms?
Osteoporosis is a silent disease. Most people who are affected don�t
even know they have this disease until after they break a bone. The most
common symptom is loss of height due to vertebral fractures in the back.
In addition, there may be chronic back pain and stooped posture.
Osteoporosis Clinic services:
- Free risk assessment
- PIXI screening
- Diagnostic bone density testing
- Educational programs and special events
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The Women's Center
1000 E. Primrose, Suite 110
Springfield, MO 65807
417/886-LADY
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