World Osteoporosis Day

 

Osteoporosis is a disease which causes your bones to become porous, weak and fragile.

The result: a higher risk of broken bones, known as fragility fractures.

Osteoporosis is ‘invisible’ - there are no obvious signs or symptoms, until a bone breaks. In people with osteoporosis, this can happen after a minor fall from standing height, a bump, sudden movement, or from bending or lifting.

Osteoporosis-related fractures are most likely to occur in the hip, spine, wrist or upper part of the arm, but other bones can break too. One broken bone leads to another, and that’s why it’s important to diagnose and treat the disease as soon as possible.

Osteoporosis-related fractures affect one in three women and one in five men aged 50 years or older worldwide.

A DISEASE WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES

Although osteoporosis itself is painless, the fragility fractures it causes can have serious, life-changing consequences.

When osteoporosis affects the bones of the spine, it often leads to pain, height-loss and a stooped or hunched posture.

Pain and limited mobility lead to loss of quality of life, dependence on caregivers, inability to carry out daily tasks and activities, and feelings of isolation or depression.

The disability due to osteoporosis is comparable or greater than disability caused by many common diseases. In people who are still working, fractures result in significant numbers of work days lost, and, especially in some professions, may make it difficult for many to continue working.

33% of hip fracture patients are totally dependent or in a nursing home in the year after a hip fracture - and up to 20-24% of patients die in the first year following the fracture.

One fracture greatly increases the risk of further fractures, which can result in a cascade of new fractures, leading to a spiral of pain and disability.

OSTEOPOROSIS CAN BE TREATED

For patients at high risk of fractures, drug treatments are needed to effectively reduce the risk of broken bones due to osteoporosis. Today there is a wider variety of osteoporosis treatment options than ever before. The type of treatment you are prescribed will depend on your individual risk profile.

Treatments have been shown to reduce the risk of hip fracture by up to 40 %, vertebral fractures by 30-70 % and, with some medications, reduce the risk for non-vertebral fractures by 30-40 %.

Your doctor may also prescribe calcium and vitamin D supplements to ensure that you are getting enough of these important nutrients. Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise may be recommended to help maintain bone, increase muscle strength, and improve balance. It is also important to consider how you can make your home safer to reduce the risk of falling.

LEAD A BONE-HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

As well as taking drug therapy to effectively protect against fractures, people with osteoporosis (and in fact anyone of any age!) should follow these lifestyle tips in support of good bone health:

1. AVOID excessive smoking and alcohol intake.

2. ENSURE A NUTRITIOUS, BALANCED DIET which includes enough calcium and protein. 3. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY - aim to exercise for 30-40 minutes, three to four times each week, with some weightbearing and resistance exercises.

4. SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS to ensure you are getting enough vitamin D, or take supplements if required.