High prevalence of osteoporosis observed among heart disease patients

Individuals who are being treated for heart disease may benefit from talking to their doctor about a prescription to buy Fosamax. Experts say that there is a high prevalence of the brittle bone condition among those with cardiovascular conditions.

The association is not necessarily all bad. Dr. Robert Yeh, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the Baltimore Sun that people with heart conditions used to die at relatively young ages. However, with improved treatments, heart disease patients are living much longer.

While this represents a major advance in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, it means that individuals are more likely to develop other health problems as they grow older, Yeh told the news source.

It is not known exactly what may be causing the association between osteoporosis and heart disease. It may have to do with the toll cardiovascular problems take on the body or medications may reduce bone density.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., though the percentage of people who succumb to it each year is subsiding.