World Osteoporosis Day

 

Osteoporosis affects over 1.2 million people in Australia, with a further 6.3 million estimated to be living with low bone density.

 What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a common disease which causes bones to become brittle.  Brittle bones lead to a higher risk of breaks than normal. Osteoporosis is often called the ‘silent disease’ because it usually has no symptoms until a bone fracture occurs. If your body loses vital minerals (such as calcium) quicker than your body can replace them, this will lead to a loss of bone density.

As bones lose their density, even a minor bump or fall can cause a serious fracture. A ‘fracture’ is a complete or partial break in a bone. Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, but the most common are the hip, spine and wrist.  Managing your bone health should be a priority as fractures can lead to chronic pain, loss of independence, disability and death.

 

What are the risk factors?

Anyone with specific risk factors for osteoporosis should see their GP.

Your family and medical history, calcium & vitamin D levels, and lifestyle factors can all impact on your bone health.

 

How can I prevent it?

It is never too early to take action in order to maintain and improve your bone health. Osteoporosis Australia identifies 3 very important factors for healthy bones that are vital in preventing osteoporosis:

Know your Bones 

Osteoporosis Australia’s bone health assessment tool helps you assess your bone health and start making the right choices for your bones.

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