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I see Sally Fields on TV talking about taking medications for her bone health. She seems so young. I'm at least 10 years older than her. Do I need to take this, too?

The television commercial you are referring to is for a class of medications called bisphosphonates. These medications help slow down the loss of bone for people who have osteopenia or osteoporosis (brittle bones). Osteopenia means bone density is lower than normal but not osteoporotic yet. Not everyone has osteopenia or osteoporosis. These conditions tend to develop as we age and especially in women who are postmenopausal. Some people are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis based on their genetics (positive family history for fractures and/or osteoporosis). Others are at increased risk because of lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, excessive intake of caffeine and/or alcohol, and inactivity or lack of exercise. See your doctor to find out your current risk of osteoporosis and what you need to prevent it. If you are tested and discover your bone mineral density is low enough, you may be a candidate for a bisphosphonate. But early identification and intervention is often possible just by changing your diet, activity level, and taking vitamin supplements including calcium and vitamin D.

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