Osteoporosis explained

Osteoporosis affects as many as one in three women. Dr Sarah Brewer outlines the key ways you can look after and improve your bone health



It is estimated that osteoporosis will eventually affect as many as one in three women and one in eight men. While some bone thinning is normal as you get older, you can significantly reduce your risk of a future fracture by ensuring your bones are as strong as possible before they start to thin.



What is Osteoporosis?
Bone is made up from a network of collagen fibres filled with mineral salts, of which the most important is calcium phosphate. As with living tissue, the fibres and minerals are constantly being broken down, replaced and remodelled. Osteoporosis develops when the balance between bone breakdown and bone remodelling is lost, so that not enough new bone is made to replace that which is absorbed. Unfortunately, there are usually few symptoms that osteoporosis is present, even when the condition is advanced. A report from the National Osteoporosis Society reveals that half of women interviewed believe that loss of height is an inevitable part of ageing, with 40 per cent thinking that slight curvature of the spine is to be expected with age. In fact, these are both warning signs of osteoporosis and if you notice them you should see your doctor.



Sometimes the diagnosis is made when an X-ray is taken for other reasons, but usually the first indication is when a fracture (eg hip, wrist) occurs after a minor fall. Fractures of bones in the spinal column (vertebrae) can occur spontaneously or result from minor strains such as when lifting or even coughing.