Healthy Bones – Why They Matter for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Healthy Bones: Why They Matter for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

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Related Resources

• Healthy Bones for Chinese Americans
• Osteoporosis and Asian American Women
• Osteoporosis and Asian American Women Over 50
• Lactose Intolerance
• Lactose Intolerance
  (中文)
• Osteoporosis and Asian American Women (中文)

Partner Resources

• Health Problems in Asian American/Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian Women (OWH)
• Minority Women's Health (OWH)
• Questions Are the Answer: Get More Involved in Your Health Care (AHRQ)

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Publication Date: June 2010
Strong bones are important for good health. They give our bodies support, help us move, and protect us from injuries. Bones also store minerals that our bodies need to stay healthy. There are things you can do to keep your bones strong and healthy. Some of these include:

• Eating healthy, well-balanced meals
• Getting regular exercise
• Not smoking or drinking too much alcohol.

These healthy behaviors can help you prevent osteoporosis, a condition where bones become weak and more likely to break. In fact, half of all women and one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Most will break a bone in the hip, spine, or wrist.
If you have ever broken a bone, you already know how painful it can be. Even after a broken bone heals, many people continue to have pain for a long time and may need help getting around and taking care of themselves.
Osteoporosis is a real risk for older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Younger women and men with certain risk factors can also get osteoporosis. For example, about 90 percent of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant, which means they have trouble digesting dairy products. Dairy products contain calcium, a mineral that is very important for strong bones. Also, many Asian Americans are small and thin, which increases the chance of getting osteoporosis.
You have the power to prevent or delay osteoporosis. Find out if you are at increased risk by answering the questions below:

1. Have broken a bone after age 45
2. Have a mother or father who broke a hip
3. Have a diet that is low in milk and dairy products
4. Smoke cigarettes
5. Drink more than one or two alcoholic beverages a day
6. Have diabetes
7. Are a cancer survivor
8. Exercise less than 3 to 5 days per week
9. Are small and thin
10. Are a woman who has been through menopause.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, talk to your doctor about steps you can take to protect your bones. Following are free resources to help you learn more about your bone health and risk factors for osteoporosis.

For more information on:	Call toll free:	Or visit:
Alcohol	800–624–2663	www.bones.nih.gov
Asthma	800–624–2663	www.bones.nih.gov
Bone Health and Osteoporosis from the U.S. Surgeon General	800–624–2663	www.bones.nih.gov
Breast and Prostate Cancer	800–624–2663	www.bones.nih.gov
Diabetes	800–624–2663 800–860–8747	www.bones.nih.gov www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
Exercise	800–624–2663	www.bones.nih.gov
Lactose Intolerance	800–891–5389	www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
Menopause	800–222–2225	www.nia.nih.gov
Nutrition	800–624–2663	www.bones.nih.gov
Osteoporosis and Seniors	800–222–2225 (Online only)	www.nia.nih.gov www.nihseniorhealth.gov
Risk Factors (Check Up On Your Bones Web tool)	(Online only)	www.bones.nih.gov
Smoking	800–624–2663	www.bones.nih.gov

Do you have osteoporosis or another bone disease? You may be able to help scientists learn more about these conditions. For information about research projects near your home, call the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center at 800–624–BONE (624–2663) or visit www.bones.nih.gov. You could make a difference!

NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center

2 AMS Circle
Bethesda,  MD 20892-3676
Phone: 202-223-0344
Toll Free: 800-624-BONE (2663)
TTY: 202-466-4315
Fax: 202-293-2356
Email: NIHBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.bones.nih.gov
The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center provides patients, health professionals, and the public with an important link to resources and information on metabolic bone diseases. The mission of NIH ORBD~NRC is to expand awareness and enhance knowledge and understanding of the prevention, early detection, and treatment of these diseases as well as strategies for coping with them.
The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center is supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases with contributions from:

• National Institute on Aging
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• NIH Office of Research on Women's Health
• DHHS Office on Women's Health.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

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