Shelley Berkley: “I rise today in support of recognizing May as National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Osteoporosis and low…”

“I rise today in support of recognizing May as National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Osteoporosis and low bone density affect more than 44 million Americans over the age of 50. Many are unaware of their risks for osteoporosis and therefore never take the steps that are necessary and relatively easy to prevent this disease. Like many Americans, I had no idea that I was at risk for developing osteoporosis. When I was running for Congress in 1998, I was first diagnosed with this disease. Fortunately, since I received a proper diagnosis, within 10 months of receiving the diagnosis and getting the proper treatment, I was able to stop my bone density loss and my bones actually began to strengthen again. Now, it became very apparent to us once I was diagnosed that my two grandmothers more than likely had osteoporosis. As they aged, they became more bent over and they started breaking bones, but we just thought that was part of old age and we never imagined, because in those days you didn't get tested for that sort of thing, that they both probably suffered from osteoporosis as well.”