The mission of the Arizona Osteoporosis Coalition is to "bring together entities and individuals all over Arizona to prevent and treat osteoporosis through education, communication and public activity."

Osteoporosis is not just your Grandmother's disease. This silent disease starts early in life, but its effects are seen later in life. Osteoporosis is the disease of weak, porous bones caused by inadequate calcium, family history, inactivity, and certain medications. Being Caucasian or Asian, and having a thin stature are also risk factors.

A woman who called AzOC was 34 years old and had such severe osteoporosis that she was warned by her doctor to not have more children. She wanted referrals to doctors who specialize in osteoporosis. The daughter of a 59-year-old woman who had already had one hip fracture called wanting information on how to help her mother not suffer another fracture. Another story involved a 63-year-old woman who had lost 7 inches of height due to severe osteoporosis. The woman could not afford expensive osteoporosis medications to slow down her bone loss.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, more than 800,000 individuals in Arizona have low bone mass or osteoporosis. One in two women, and one in 8 men, will suffer from osteoporosis-related fractures in their lifetime.
Medical costs in Arizona are $236 million annually. Osteoporosis causes pain, disability, loss of independence, and leads to early death.

2007 Arizona Osteoporosis Facts - click to download

Arizona Osteoporosis Coalition Overview - click to download

2004 Surgeon General's Report on Osteoporosis - click to view

AZOC is partnering with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to expand osteoporosis screening, resources and prevention education across the state. Part of the program is a pilot bone density screening in three counties, Coconino, Yuma and Yavapai Well Woman program.
http://www.wellwomanhealthcheck.org/

For more information about the ADHS Osteoporosis Program, please contact
the ADHS Osteoporosis Program Manager at (602) 542-1886.