Women At High Risk For Hip Fractures
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - I have a very disturbing statistic. Approximately one in six women will have a hip fracture in her lifetime. It's a huge number, one in six, especially when you think about how devastating a hip fracture can be.
One in 35 of all women will die of complications of a hip fracture.
So, what can you do to reduce the chances it will happen to you? This is the crucial question because it can help you in the long run.
The key is improving bone strength. Throughout your life, you need to exercise regularly, you need to eat a well-balanced diet with calcium and vitamin D, and in fact, you can add supplements as needed.
It's also important not to smoke cigarettes. Essentially, you are doing things to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. As we get older we can also be tested to see who is at risk.
