FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2006
Contact: Cyndi Alvarado (936) 760-7860
At The Woodlands Mall on May 6, 2006
The Woodlands, TX -- On Saturday, May 6, at 10 a.m., Sadler Clinic will sponsor an informative presentation on Osteoporosis by Endocrinologist Dr. Shari C. Fox in Future Court at The Woodlands Mall (first level across from JC Penney). Osteoporosis affects 10 million Americans, while an additional 18 million Americans who already have low bone mass are on the disease’s waiting list. Although the disease affects mostly women, 2 million American males suffer from osteoporosis, as well. Osteoporosis causes more than 1.5 million fractures every year.
Dr. Fox will discuss the latest research on osteoporosis, ranging from studies that examine calcium and Vitamin D intake to others that discuss the importance of thyroid regulation. Recent studies question if thyroid treatment might lead to loss of bone density; however, there is still a lack of extensive evidence to support this. Dr. Fox will also present information on new treatment options for osteoporosis.
“It’s important to know what is currently being published on the topic of osteoporosis,” Fox commented. “Not all the studies are equal in thoroughness and quality. If patients read or hear about a study whose conclusions are not based on sound evidence and rigorous testing, it could be detrimental to them to believe that these studies are releasing fail-safe advice about how patients should change their treatment plans or lifestyles.”
Dr. Fox cites a recent report on calcium intake published in the New England Journal of Medicine as an example. “This report questions the effectiveness of calcium in treating osteoporosis, something that has already been proven to be absolutely essential to building bone mass. A layperson might read this article and consider reducing their calcium intake, which would be the worst possible thing they could do. It’s very important to have your own physician help you sort through the wide variety of information available to the public. You cannot believe everything you read or hear.”
Dr. Fox earned her MD degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and her Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She completed an endocrinology fellowship at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, which included research on new treatment options for osteoporosis. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology.
For more information, contact Cyndi Alvarado at 936.760.7860 or calvarado@sadler.com.