Osteoporosis
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about 54 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis and low bone density. Of this number, about 80 percent are women. In fact, osteoporosis reports show that 1 in 2 women older than 50 will most probably suffer a bone fracture because of this condition while 1 in 4 men will most likely suffer the same.
“Osteoporosis remains a highly prevalent condition; however, based on data in the literature, osteoporosis is no longer just a condition observed among older, non-Hispanic white women,” Nicole Wright, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the department of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Osteoporosis is a major contributor to medical bills, costing Americans thousands of dollars of their own money. The nation paid around $57 billion last year for bone fractures osteoporosis-related costs and is projected to reach $95 billion in 2040.
How to reduce costs
Osteoporosis can be treated with prescription medication, so one way to make sure you pay less is to ask your doctor if it’s safe to use less expensive generic drugs. In addition, a good way to improve your bone density is to perform weight-bearing exercises like walking, running, and if you’re up to it, lifting weights. Taking vitamin D supplements is also efficient in helping you build stronger bones.
