Supported by the International Osteoporosis Foundation and Amgen, the Fight the Fracture Survey interviewed 400 patients aged 60 years or older across Asia who had suffered a fragility fracture within the last two years. Surprisingly, it found that:1
“Over 80% of patients believe that weak bones are an inevitable feature of the normal ageing process”
Let’s explore why patients might think that:
Broken bones happen because of a “silent disease” called osteoporosis which causes your bones to become weak and fragile, and put your bones at risk of breaking.2
When osteoporosis occurs, the internal structure of bones starts to break down at a much faster rate than they can be rebuilt, and this damages their strength and stability. Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease” because you can’t feel your bones becoming weak and for many, a broken bone is often the first sign.
Click here to learn more about osteoporosis.
So, if you are a postmenopausal woman over 50 years old, you should request an osteoporosis assessment from your local doctor. Remember that broken bones aren’t a normal part of growing old, they can mean osteoporosis, and osteoporosis can be treated.
Reference
1 National Osteoporosis Foundation. Fractures/Fall Prevention. www.nof.org.