WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS?
Osteoporosis is a disease which makes bones weak and fragile. This greatly increases the risk of breaking a bone even after a minor fall or bump. The disease has no obvious symptoms, so many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they suffer a fracture. Fractures can be life-altering, causing pain, disability and loss of independence. That’s why it’s important to prevent osteoporosis! - (International Osteoporosis Foundation)
LOVE YOUR BONES - Protect your future
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS?
Factors associated with developing osteoporosis include:
Close family member diagnosed
Family history of fractures and falls
Frequent falls
Previous fracture
Low body weight
Loss in height
Cessation of a woman’s period for more than 12 months
Low in Vitamin D levels
High alcohol intake
Smoking
Medications such as corticosteroids
Age 60+
Chronic disorders such as anorexia, Chron’s disease, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, post-transplantation, renal failure, Cushing’s syndrome, arthritis.
International Osteoporosis Fondation, 2020
WHO IS AT RISK?
FEMALES 45+
Osteoporosis accounts for more days in hospital than any other diseases like breast cancer, myocardial infarction, diabetes and others.
MEN
Fracture risk is up to 27% higher than prostate cancer risk. Even though men’s bone density decreases slower than females due to not experiencing hormonal changes such as menopause, their bone density decrease with the same rate as females after 60.
30+
Our bone mass peaks at the age of 30 hereafter we naturally begins to lose bone density when the bones lose the ability to rebuild at the same rate it breaks down. Generally, the older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.