WHEREAS, Osteoporosis is a serious bone-thinning disease that occurs when the body loses more bone mass than it replaces; and
WHEREAS, preventions must begin during the critical bone-building years of childhood and adolescence by eating a calcium-rich diet and by pursuing a healthy, active lifestyle; and
WHEREAS, Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of the people 50 years of age and older; in the U.S., 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis; and
WHEREAS,
there is a common misconception among Americans that osteoporosis is a disease that only happens to elderly people, but there is no existing cure and therapies are limited once a bone has fractured; no one is too young or too old to take measure to prevent osteoporosis; andWHEREAS, everyone is encouraged to learn more about how to prevent this crippling disease; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA do hereby proclaim May 11-17, 2008, as
OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION AND AWARENESS WEEK
