Strong
Women, Inside and Out
Strong
Women, Inside & Out is a broad-based
coalition of national organizations who share a commitment to
promoting independent, strong, and active lives for mid-life and
older women. Strong Women represents more than 32.5 million people,
including women, mid-life and older Americans, labor union members,
healthcare providers, and other professionals. Strong Women is
led by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the only national,
voluntary health organization solely dedicated to reducing the
prevalence of osteoporosis.Osteoporosis
is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration
of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility
to fractures especially of the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis
can lead to painful and debilitating fractures and effects nearly
29 million Americans. Nearly 80% of those affected – or more than
23 million – are women. In fact, nearly one in every two women
over age 50 will experience and osteoporotic fracture in her lifetime.
Each year, osteoporosis is associated with approximately 1.5 million
fractures, costing the US healthcare system nearly $14 billion
annually (more than congestive heart failure at $8 billion, or
asthma at $9.8 billion). A woman’s risk of hip fracture is equal
to her combined risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian
cancer. Yet according to a Gallup survey of women age 45 to 75
commissioned by the National Osteoporosis Foundation, most are
not aware of the prevalence of osteoporosis.Learn more
about osteoporosis in women and men from the National
Osteoporosis Foundation.
Partnership
for Long-Term Health for Women
According
to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are nearly 40 million women in
the United States over the age of 50. These women are now living
one-third of their lives after menopause, a time when their risk
of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, osteoporosis, diabetes
and other diseases increases significantly. It is important for
a woman to talk with her health care provider about the changes
happening in her body and what she can do to protect her future
health. If you are menopausal or postmenopausal, use the following
guide to assist you in communicating and identifying your health
risks and treatment options with your health care provider.Educating
women about important health issues is the goal of the Partnership
for Long-Term Health for Women, a national education campaign
to educate women to make informed decisions about their health
as they age. The
NEA Health Information Network has joined other women’s, minority,
health, and aging leaders to work together to disseminate information
to women across the country through this Partnership.The National
Council of Women’s Organizations and the National Women’s Health
Resource Center have developed a unique Partnership web
site
and toll-free number, 1-877-PM-HEALT(H), to ease access to, and
dissemination of, important information and materials aiding women
in taking charge of their health after menopause. The website
offers the Partnership’s Health & Wellness Guide and materials
available from national partners including You’re In Charge: A
Guide to Good Health After Menopause developed by the Alliance
for Aging Research.
Top
10 Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider
Provided by the Partnership for Long-Term Health
for Women
- Should
I get a bone density screening? When and how often? - How often
should I get a mammogram? Pap smear? - How can
I be screened for heart disease, diabetes and cancers? - Can I be
screened for depression? What treatments are available? - Based on
my medical and family history, am I at greater risk of heart
disease, stroke, osteoporosis or breast cancer? How can I manage
those risks? - Am I a
good candidate for hormone replacement therapy? What are the
benefits and risks? - Am I a
good candidate for the new preventive treatment – SERMs, as
an alternative to hormone replacement therapy? - What vitamins
or herbal remedies might be helpful to me? - What lifestyle
changes do you recommend based on my risk profile? - What else
can I do to lower my risk of disease after menopause?