Broken bones may signal osteoporosis

After breaking a bone, older individuals should consider talking to their doctor about whether a prescription to buy Fosamax is right for them. Any broken bone in old age is considered a major risk factor for osteoporosis, but experts say doctors often overlook this fact.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that only about 20 percent of older adults who break a bone are given adequate bone density tests. Many doctors focus on fixing the initial break, but few consider what the fracture means for the patient's long-term health.

"Orthopedic surgeons do a really good job of fixing broken bones, but they don’t take time to go through the whole calcium discussion or talk about medications that could stop bone loss," Ethel Siris, director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center at Columbia University, told the news source.

He added that fractures occurring during the course of normal activities, like breaking an arm while leaning against a wall, should be taken as a sign that bones are not as strong as they should be.

About 4.5 million adults have osteoporosis of the hip, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of these people may benefit from a prescription to buy Fosamax.