ARE YOUR BONES AT RISK FROM OSTEOPOROSIS?

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

  • Osteoporosis is a common condition that makes your bones weak.
    As you get older, changes in hormone levels cause your bones to lose minerals. The first stage is of bone loss is called osteopenia which means that your bones are not as strong as they should be. Your bones start to break down more quickly than your body can rebuild them.  And over time they lose strength and structure.2
  • If you have osteoporosis, your bones can break more easily even from a minor fall, a bump or a sneeze.3
  • Broken bones can happen to you.
    1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men aged over 50 will suffer a broken bone due to osteoporosis.1

NORMAL BONE

NORMAL BONE DENSITY

OSTEOPOROTIC BONE

LOW BONE DENSITY

  • Bone is a living tissue that gives your body structure. It is continually being rebuilt and replaced throughout your life.2
  • If you have osteoporosis, your bones break down faster than your body can rebuild them. This causes them to become fragile and are more likely to break, even from a slight bump or fall.4,5
Images reproduced with permission from David Dempster.

BE AWARE OF YOUR RISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is known as the ‘silent disease’ because for many, a broken bone is the first sign.6

These risks factors all contribute to your bone health and your risk of getting osteoporosis:3

References – First signs of bone loss

1 Oden A, et al. Osteoporos Int 2015;26:2243-48.

2 International Osteoporosis Foundation. Facts and statistics. osteoporosis.foundation/facts-statistics.

3 Bone Health & Osteoporosis. Healthy bones for life - Patient’s guide. 2014. bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/healthy-bones-for-life.

4 Healthy Bones Australia. Osteopenia and bone health. 2020. healthybonesaustralia.org.au.

5 International Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis.Risk.Check. 2019. riskcheck.osteoporosis.foundation.

6 WebMD. Osteoporosis and menopause. webmd.com/menopause.

7 Siris ES, et al. Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1108–12.