Surgeon General's report underscores the importance of new thinking on b...( San Antonio TX (October 14 2004)--Mis...)

San Antonio, TX (October 14, 2004)--Mission Pharmacal will do its part to help encourage action against osteoporosis, the preventable disease that today's Surgeon General's Report--Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General"--has warned will be a risk for half of all Americans older than 50 by 2020. The Surgeon General called for a coordinated public health approach that brings together a variety of public and private stakeholders in a collaborative effort to improve bone health.

"The greatest challenge always has been to drive home the importance of osteoporosis prevention. For decades, too many people have not adequately considered the repercussions of their diets and lifestyles on their bone health. We believe today's report is an important tool to spur healthcare professionals, advocates and private industries on in our efforts to find effective ways to make osteoporosis prevention part of the everyday lives," said Neil Walsdorf, Jr., president of Mission Pharmacal.

Osteoporosis is the gradual loss of bone density from the skeleton that often results in fractures of the hip, spine and wrist. Signs of advanced osteoporosis include stooped posture, loss of height, pain and bones that break easily. Bone loss affects nearly 44 million in the United States, 80 percent of them women. Bone deterioration is responsible for 1.5 million fractures each year, resulting in as many as 300,000 deaths due to complications, yet two simple measures--exercise and calcium--can help prevent it. Education and prevention are key themes in the report that also focuses on new research, access and coverage for health services.

"The findings of the Surgeon General's Report show that this disease is not simply a symptom of growing older," says Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., a participant in the Surgeon General's Workshop leading up to the report and author of Strong Women, Strong Bones and the Strong Women book series. "Women's daily calcium needs vary
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Contact: Will Madden
Will.Madden@mslpr.com
212-468-4127
Manning Selvage & Lee
14-Oct-2004

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