Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones to the point where they break easily—most often, bone loss in the hip, backbone (spine), and wrist. Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease” because you may not notice any changes until a bone breaks. All the while, though, your bones had been losing strength for many years.
- Bone is actually a living, growing organ in the body, which is strong, but flexible.
- We constantly lose old bone and form new bone throughout our lives.
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Past the mid-life point, bone loss usually starts to become greater than bone formation across the general population, affecting both men and women.
- When you lose too much bone, or do not make enough of it, or perhaps a combination of both, this is osteoporosis.
- Approximately 3 million people in the Canada suffer from osteoporosis.
- Some bone loss can be a result of certain kinds of medication.
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Even though bone loss affects both men and women, roughly half of all women and 1 in 4 men over the age of 50 will break a bone as a direct result of osteoporosis.
- Women lose up to 20% of their bone density in the five to seven years surrounding the menopause.
- By around age 80, Caucasian women have usually lost around one third of their hip bone density.
- Broken hips are on the rise, and can be fatal, resulting in 1150 monthly deaths in the UK alone.
- If your parents experienced bone breaks in adulthood, your chances of having osteoporosis are greater, as osteoporosis has genetic elements.
- The most common osteoporosis breaks happen in the wrist, spine, or hip. A broken bone in the back may cause a sharp pain, but it also may show no symptoms at all.
- In those with osteoporosis, breaks can result from even small everyday actions, such as sneezing, lifting, bumping into something, or even hugging someone.
- Osteoporosis often shows no symptoms, so many people do not actually know they are affected by it until they break a bone.
- Osteoporosis is common, but it is manageable, treatable, and preventable.
What are three symptoms of osteoporosis?
Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra. Loss of height over time. A stooped posture. A bone that breaks much more easily than expected.
Can osteoporosis be cured?
The short answer is no, osteoporosis cannot be completely reversed and is not considered curable, but there are a number of health and lifestyle adjustments you can make to improve bone loss. Your provider may also prescribe you medications to help rebuild and slow down bone loss
