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Release Date: April 2008

HEALTHY BONES DURING MENOPAUSE

The hot flashes. The incredibly dry skin. You’ve probably heard a mother, sister, aunt, or friend talk about menopause’s wild effects on her body. But she probably hasn’t mentioned its effects on her bones. Bone health can have a huge effect on your quality of life as you age, so learning how to take care of your bones is essential. Send for Menopause and Your Bones, a new, free package of brochures from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases that’s been assembled to help you learn more.

During menopause, you lose bone mass much more quickly than at any other time in your life. You often see the results of the bone loss, called osteoporosis, later in life—think women in their 70s or 80s who are prone to broken hips. But your bones begin losing their density and strength as soon as menopause hits. Family history, the medications you take, excessive dieting, and other risk factors also determine how quickly your bones become brittle. Menopause and Your Bones has more information on the causes of osteoporosis, including steps to take at many points in your life to increase bone density or slow its loss.

Back pain can be a sign of osteoporosis, especially if it’s sudden. But how can you distinguish between the regular back pain that comes with age and something more serious? The Menopause and Your Bones package also includes a brochure focused solely on back pain. Its advice on causes, treatments, and ways to prevent back pain to is sure to come in handy—8 out of 10 people deal with it at some point.

The good news is that there are many things you can do to keep your bones strong and your back healthy, whether you’re years away from menopause or already past it. Yes, the standard advice about eating right is true, especially foods that contain calcium and Vitamin D, and exercise is also important. But make sure it helps you strengthen your back and abdominal muscles. Things like stair climbing, brisk walking, or anything that makes you work against gravity also help you maintain the amount of bone you have. And Menopause and Your Bones has plenty of other suggestions to keep your bones in good shape.

Osteoporosis doesn’t have to be a fact of life when you age. Luckily, Menopause and Your Bones can show you how to have healthy bones for as long as possible. There are three easy ways to place your order:

  • Send your name and address to Menopause and Your Bones, Pueblo, Colorado 81009.

  • Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/n76menopauseandyourbones.htm to place your order online or to read or print these and hundreds of other Federal publications for free.

  • Call toll-free 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO. That’s 1 (888) 878-3256, weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time and ask for the Menopause and Your Bones package.

Get even more information and take advantage of online government resources at www.USA.gov and www.GobiernoUSA.gov—your official English and Spanish web portals to the Federal government.

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  • Please check with Rebecca Fulcher if you plan to use this release after July 1, 2008.
  • To receive New for Consumers releases by e-mail, send a request to rebecca.fulcher(at)gsa.gov or call (202) 501-1794.

GSA #2872

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