Busting Myths About Osteoporosis {Interview}
Thinking Beyond the Summer Sun and Vitamin D, Survey Reveals How People Understand Osteoporosis
Some people are familiar with the basics about bone loss and osteoporosis, but there is more to the story and so much is largely misunderstood and unknown.
Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because there are typically no symptoms until a bone breaks. A fracture (bone break) in postmenopausal women, especially one caused from falling from a standing position or lower, is an “indicator” of osteoporosis.
But, too often, this crucial connection gets overlooked. A new national survey reveals that 82% of postmenopausal women miss this critical connection. Only 32% of postmenopausal women who have risk factors for developing osteoporosis realize or believe they are at risk.
That’s why a new educational program called Fractured Truth is so important. It aims to reach postmenopausal women 50 and older in hopes of filling in the knowledge gaps about bone health. A new national survey just out reveals some of those common misconceptions that postmenopausal women have about bone health, including:
- Drinking milk or taking calcium supplements alone will prevent osteoporosis fractures/breaks
- Osteoporosis is an unavoidable part of aging
- There’s no way to build new bone at their age
- Risk of fracture/break cannot be reduced in women their age
Join Tara Allmen, MD, FACOG, NCMP, one of America’s leading experts in midlife women’s health, in a recent interview as she will clarify some of the half-truths and misconceptions surrounding osteoporosis and discuss the Fractured Truth campaign and its key survey results.
Watch the entire interview below:
For more information, go to www.fracturedtruths.com.
Bio: Dr. Tara Allmen
Tara Allmen, MD, is one of America’s leading experts in midlife women’s health. She is a Board Certified Gynecologist and Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP). Dr. Allmen has educated thousands of medical professionals around the country in perimenopausal and menopausal medicine. She has also been featured on television, both in the United States and internationally. Inspired to reach millions of women over the age of 40 with accurate scientific information, Dr. Allmen created an extensive video library, available on her website, as well as the DVD “Menopause in an Hour.” Her book Menopause Confidential, A Doctor Reveals The Secrets To Thriving Through Midlife is due to be published by Harper Collins in 2016.
A graduate of New York’s prestigious Stuyvesant High School, Dr. Allmen earned her bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco.
In 1999, Dr. Allmen joined the Center for Menopause, Hormonal Disorders and Women’s Health, New York City, focusing her practice on perimenopause and menopause.
As President and CEO of the Allmen Foundation, Dr. Allmen supports non-profit organizations working in the areas of women’s health, childhood education and animal welfare. The North American Menopause Society, the leading non-profit organization dedicated to midlife women’s health, refers to Dr. Allmen as a “Visionary” contributor.
Dr. Allmen lives in New York City with her handsome husband, two adorable children and a small dog named Sadie.
National Award For Obstetrics & Gynecology In 2015
Menopause Confidential
Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FACOG)
National Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP)
President and CEO, Allmen Foundation
President, North American Menopause Society Foundation
Trustee, Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association, NYC
Dr. Oz Show, Medical Advisory Board
[1] National Osteoporosis Foundation. What is osteoporosis and what causes it? – National Osteoporosis Foundation. https://www.nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/. Accessed November 30, 2016.
[1] Anderson, PA, Reitman, C, Jeray KJ. Own the bone: Spine practitioners’ opportunity in managing patients with fragility fractures. SpineLine. 2015. http://www.spineline-digital.org/spineline/july_august_2015?pg=9#pg9. Accessed 13 December 2016
[1] At risk of osteoporosis is defined as having at least one of the following: currently smoke cigarettes or have smoked cigarettes within the last 5 years, drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day, diagnosed with a postmenopausal fracture from falling from a standing position or less, have a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, experienced premature menopause, have a father/mother/sister diagnosed with osteoporosis, current/past glucocorticoid use for more than 3 months at a time
[1] National Osteoporosis Foundation. What is osteoporosis and what causes it? – National Osteoporosis Foundation. https://www.nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/. Accessed November 30, 2016.
[2] Anderson, PA, Reitman, C, Jeray KJ. Own the bone: Spine practitioners’ opportunity in managing patients with fragility fractures. SpineLine. 2015. http://www.spineline-digital.org/spineline/july_august_2015?pg=9#pg9. Accessed 13 December 2016
[3] At risk of osteoporosis is defined as having at least one of the following: currently smoke cigarettes or have smoked cigarettes within the last 5 years, drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day, diagnosed with a postmenopausal fracture from falling from a standing position or less, have a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, experienced premature menopause, have a father/mother/sister diagnosed with osteoporosis, current/past glucocorticoid use for more than 3 months at a time.
Interview is courtesy: Radius Health, Inc.
