New York Times Publishes Valuable Suggestions Aimed at Individuals at Risk For Developing Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

September 04, 2012 (PRLEAP.COM) Business News
(New York, NY, September 4, 2012) The Rottenstein Law Group, which represents clients with claims stemming from the severe side effects of the drug Fosamax, is helping to spread the word about valuable suggestions recently published by the New York Times, aimed at informing those individuals at risk for developing osteopenia and osteoporosis.

According to an Ausgust 27, 2012 post on the Times blog "Well," "[bone] fractures in old age and broken hips in particular are a serious health problem. One in every two women will experience a fracture after the age of 50, and for those women who break a hip, the injury can be life-altering, making a woman four times as likely to die within a year of the injury as she would be otherwise."

The blog post goes on to suggest, "if you're near 50, assess your risk using FRAX, a tool developed by the World Health Organization." If you are under 65, have a bone density scan "if you have broken a bone from a minor injury, have a parent who broke a hip, are underweight, smoke, drink a lot of alcohol or have taken medications that can weaken bones, like corticosteroids."

Even without any of these risk factors, the post continues, "women should have a bone-density scan by age 65, and men should have one by age 70." All people should be "sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet…not through supplements, and do weight-bearing exercise, including weight-lifting and walking, as well as yoga or tai chi, which help develop balance." The post further recommends cutting down on alcohol, quitting smoking, and avoiding, if possible, drugs that may weaken bones, including some antidepressants.

"For low risk patients with modest bone loss, or osteopenia, bisphosphonates like Fosamax or Boniva may do more harm than good," the Times post states.

Despite being the most popular osteoporosis treatment on the market, Fosamax has been linked to several serious side effects. In 2004, researchers found a causal connection between Fosamax and osteonecrosis of the jaw, a condition that causes the jawbone to literally die because of a lack of blood supply. More recently, there has been a link between Fosamax and low-impact femur fractures experienced from standing height or less. Evidence is mounting that Fosamax and other bisphosphonate drugs prescribed to treat osteoporosis cause a dramatic increase in the risk of this kind of rare fracture to the thigh bone.

The Rottenstein Law Group urges anyone with a friend or relative who has been prescribed Fosamax or another osteoporosis drug to reach out to that person and recommend that he or she consult a physician immediately and then speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer. The Rottenstein Law Group maintains a Fosamax Lawsuit Help Center at [url=http://www.fosamax-lawsuit.net . There, those who have suffered alleged injuries from Fosmax can find valuable information about their legal rights that will help determine the proper course of action. The site also has features that allow for easy sharing, including links for automatic posting on Facebook and Twitter, specifically to enable visitors to spread the word about the dangers of Fosamax. (Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)

About The Rottenstein Law Group
The Rottenstein Law Group is a New York-based law firm that represents clients nationwide in mass tort actions. The firm was founded by Rochelle Rottenstein, who has more than two decades of experience as a lawyer, to represent clients in consumer product injury, mass tort, and class action lawsuits in a compassionate manner.