Tired of taking pills for osteoporosis? No problem…

Soon, there may be an option to replace those weekly or monthly pills with a once-a year- injection of zoledronic acid--which according to a study has been proven to reduce "spine fractures by 70 percent and hip fractures by 41 percent over a three-year period. ... results [that] are similar to those obtained from current osteoporosis drugs."

Is this the new miracle drug for osteoporosis? Perhaps. But be warned, like all drugs, this too has side effects – most notably, a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, a type of abnormal heart rhythm. However, experts also state that this side effect may "be common to all bisphosphonates [ie. pills such as Boniva that are used to treat osteoporosis], but it's too early to tell."

Why the focus on osteoporosis?

"According to the 2004 Report of the Surgeon General on Bone Health and Osteoporosis, half of women over 50 years old will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetimes." In addition, it is estimated that 44 million American women and men aged 50 or older are affected by osteoporosis and low bone mass.

Therefore, make sure you ask your doctor about this treatment if you suffer from osteoporosis. Be sure to also ask whether this treatment is covered by health insurance and/or Medicare.