Nationwide — Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leaves bones more porous and fragile, leaving them at greater risk for fractures. There is often a misconception that African American women are not at risk because they have a higher bone density than white women. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the truth is that black women are actually more likely to die following a hip fracture than white women. Why?
While it’s a fact that small-boned women, particularly white and Asian, are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis, there are other factors that place black women at greater risk, too. These include:
* About 75 percent of all African Americans are lactose intolerant and most African American women only get about 50 percent of the daily required calcium necessary to build strong bones.
* The risk of hip fracture doubles every 7 years among African American women as they age.
* Osteoporosis in African American women often goes under recognized and under treated.
SOURCE: Minorities.AffordableHealthInsurance.org