Osteoporosis screening

This is very straightforward - here is the recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF): http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsoste.htm. In summary, the recommendation is for surveillance to begin at age 65 routinely and at 60 for those at increased risk.

So who is at increase risk? "Lower body weight (weight < 70 kg ) is the single best predictor of low bone mineral density" and osteoporosis is more common in white than African-American women according to the USPSTF. Other risk factors include sedentary life style (little weight bearing activity), cigarettes, thyroid disease, prolonged administration of steroids and a family history of osteoporosis. If you have multiple risk factors, we may want to do osteoporosis screening before you reach age 60. Calculate your risk for fracture: http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.jsp?locationValue=9.

You will want to take in calcium and Vitamin D once you reach menopause, and probably even before. Try to get 1200 mg of calcium and 800 IU of Vit D each day taking half the dose in the AM and PM. Many preparations are available in over-the-counter (OTC) formulations; you may want to check with your pharmacist to see which preparations they carry which well help you reach these targets.

Here is a link to the National Institue of Health website regarding calcium sources in your diet: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/calcium.cfm.