NCL Health Issues

Are you at risk for osteoporosis?

If you can agree with any of these statements, you could be at high risk for weak bones, and you should talk to your health care provider to learn about ways to prevent osteoporosis.

• I'm older than 65
• I've broken a bone after age 50
• My close relative has osteoporosis or has broken a bone
• My health is "fair" or "poor"
• I smoke
• I am underweight for my height
• I started menopause before age 45
• I've never gotten enough calcium
• I have more than two drinks of alcohol several times a week
• I have poor vision, even with glasses
• I sometimes fall
• I'm not active

I have one of these medical conditions:

• hyperthyroidism
• chronic lung disease
• cancer
• inflammatory bowel disease
• chronic liver or kidney disease
• hyperparathyroidism
• vitamin D deficiency
• Cushing's disease
• multiple sclerosis
• rheumatoid arthritis

I take one of these medicines:

• oral glucocorticoids (steroids)
• cancer treatments (radiation, chemotherapy)
• thyroid medicine
• antiepileptic medications
• gonadal hormone suppression
• immunosuppressive agents

Your Body Needs Calcium!

Use this guide to determin how many milligrams (mg) of calcium each day. A cup of milk or fortified orange juice has about 300 mg of calcium.

Your age:

0 to 6 months - 210 mg

6 to 12 months - 270 mg

1 to 3 years -  500 mg

4 to 8 years - 800 mg

9 to 18 years - 1,300 mg

18 to 50 years - 1,000 mg

Over 50 years - 1,200 mg