Osteoporosis : London Health

Osteoporosis is a serious condition, which is characterised by brittle and fragile bones. Osteoporosis makes bones much more susceptible to fractures; each year 1 in 5 men and 1 in 2 women break a bone as a result of osteoporosis and 3 million people in the UK are affected by the condition. Older people have a higher risk of osteoporosis because the body decreases its production of bone mass as it gets older; after the age of 25 the density of the bones slowly decreases.

Osteoporosis: risk factors

There are several risk factors which can contribute to osteoporosis; these include:

A lack of oestrogen in females (commonly associated with the menopause)
A lack of testosterone in males
Smoking
Heavy drinking
Family history
Digestive disorders (including coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease)
Health conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome and problems with liver or thyroid function

Symptoms of osteoporosis

There are no real visible symptoms of osteoporosis and most cases go undiagnosed until a person suffers from a fracture.

Treatment for osteoporosis

Treatment for osteoporosis may include a combination of medication, calcium supplements and hormone treatments.

Preventing osteoporosis

It is important to take in plenty of calcium to keep the bones strong and healthy. Women that have a family history or osteoporosis or have gone through the menopause may have hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent osteoporosis.