Caltrate ® – Wyeth Consumer Healthcare

	OSTEOPOROSIS Osteoporosis — the silent bone disease Osteoporosis — prevention is better than a cure Osteoporosis — are you at risk?
	CALCIUM Why do we need calcium? How much calcium is enough? Who is getting enough calcium? Can I obtain enough calcium from diet alone?
	PRODUCT RANGE Why take Caltrate? Caltrate 600mg Caltrate 600mg with Vitamin D Caltrate Plus

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone to become porous, brittle and weak. It is often referred to as the ‘silent bone disease’ because it usually progresses without symptoms and the first time many sufferers discover they have it is when they experience a fracture from a minor fall.

Osteoporosis is a more common disease than you might think, affecting nearly 2 million Australians.¹ A study suggests that 1 in 4 Australians aged over 45 years will develop osteoporosis¹, which often leads to fractures, severe loss of independence and impacts the quality of life.

The prevalance of osteoporosis is increasing, with 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men aged 60 and over suffering an osteoporotic fracture¹. This disease places a widespread burden on society with osteoporosis generating financial costs of $7.4 billion annually in Australia¹.

Women are at the highest risk of developing osteoporosis, as from the onset of menopause there is reduced oestrogen production, which leads to increased calcium loss in the bones.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent osteoporosis:

	Ensure your diet includes adequate calcium daily; if you are not achieving adequate calcium through diet, a supplement can help.
	Do sufficient weight bearing exercise such as walking, jogging and aerobics; this helps to keep bones strong and healthy.
	Avoid high intakes of coffee, alcohol, salt and carbonated drinks.
	Don’t smoke.

To see if you may be at risk of developing osteoporosis, take the following One Minute Risk Test today.

1.	Have either of your parents broken a hip after a minor bump or fall?

2.	Have you broken a bone after a minor bump or fall?

3.	For women: did you undergo menopause before the age of 45?

4.	For women: have your periods stopped for 12 months or more other than because of pregnancy?

5.	For men: Have you ever suffered from symptoms related to low testosterone levels?

6.	Have you lost more than 3cm (1 inch) in height?

7.	Do you regularly drink alcohol heavily; more than 4 drinks for men and more than 2 drinks for women per day?

8.	Do you smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day?

9.	Do you suffer from intestinal problems such as Coeliac disease or Crohn's disease?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may be at risk of developing osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a serious condition which needs close management by your doctor. Do not attempt to self-treat osteoporosis, consult your doctor and discuss the matter. The good news is that osteoporosis can be relatively easily diagnosed and treated under medical supervision.