Where is osteoporosis common

Back to Health A to Z. Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break.

It develops slowly over several years and is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break fracture. However, breaks can also happen in other bones, such as in the arm or pelvis.

Sometimes a cough or sneeze can cause a broken rib or the partial collapse of one of the bones of the spine. Osteoporosis is not usually painful until a bone is broken, but broken bones in the spine are a common cause of long-term pain. Although a broken bone is often the first sign of osteoporosis, some older people develop the characteristic stooped bent forward posture.

It happens when the bones in the spine have broken, making it difficult to support the weight of the body. The stage before osteoporosis is called osteopenia. This is when a bone density scan shows you have lower bone density than the average for your age, but not low enough to be classed as osteoporosis. If you have osteopenia, there are steps you can take to keep your bones healthy and reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis.

Your doctor may also prescribe one of the bone-strengthening treatments that are given to people with osteoporosis, depending on how weak your bones are and your risk of breaking a bone.

More than , people receive hospital treatment for fragility fractures bones that break after falling from standing height or less every year as a result of osteoporosis. Losing bone is a normal part of ageing, but some people lose bone much faster than normal.

This can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of broken bones. Women also lose bone rapidly in the first few years after the menopause.

Women are more at risk of osteoporosis than men, particularly if the menopause begins early before the age of 45 or they've had their ovaries removed.

If your doctor suspects you have osteoporosis, they can work out your future risk of breaking a bone using an online programme, such as FRAX or Q-Fracture. They may also refer you for a bone density scan to measure your bone strength. It's a short, painless procedure that takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the part of the body being scanned.

Hip fractures most often occur in adults older than Almost all people who have hip fractures require surgery to repair the broken bone. A broken hip may lead to a loss of independence.

Following surgery, it is common for individuals to need help from family, friends or health care professionals with daily activities such as bathing dressing and shopping. Complications from surgery can be serious. In fact, after surgery some people require skilled nursing care at a long-term care facility, and sadly, some people even die.

Navigation menu. How common is osteoporosis? Is osteoporosis a normal part of aging? How is osteoporosis diagnosed? What happens when bones break?

What can I do to prevent osteoporosis and broken bones? Eat a variety of healthy nutrient-rich foods every day. Eat several servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Get the calcium you need. Consume to milligrams mg of calcium each day. It is best to get calcium from the foods you eat. Foods rich in calcium such as low-fat dairy foods milk, yogurt, cheese , dark green, leafy vegetables bok choy, broccoli collard greens, kale, and turnip greens , canned fish sardines, salmon eaten with bones, or calcium-fortified with calcium added foods.

Try to eat a calcium-rich food at each meal. Add calcium supplements pills only when you cannot get the calcium you need from food alone. Get the recommended amount of vitamin D.

There are only a few good natural sources of vitamin D including fatty fish such as catfish, eel, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and tuna.

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There are no clear physical signs of osteoporosis and it may not cause any problems for some time. If your doctor thinks you may have osteoporosis, they may suggest you have a DEXA dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan to measure the density of your bones. The scan is readily available and involves lying on a couch, fully clothed, for about 15 minutes while your bones are x-rayed.

The dose of x-rays is very small — about the same as spending a day out in the sun. The possible results are:. Osteopenia — Your bone is becoming weaker but your risk of a low-impact fracture is relatively small. You may or may not need treatment depending on what other risk factors you have. You should discuss with your doctor how you can reduce your risk factors. Osteoporosis — You have a greater risk of low-impact fractures and you may need treatment.

You should discuss this with your doctor. There's no good evidence that screening everybody for osteoporosis would be helpful. However, you should talk to your doctor about having a scan if any of the following apply to you:.

The next step is to begin treatment to reduce your risk of further fractures. Unless you have a vertebral compression fracture, you'll probably have a cast on the affected area to stop it moving and allow the fracture to heal.

In some cases the fracture may need to be manipulated by a specialist before the cast is put on. You're also likely to be admitted to hospital if the fracture needs surgical fixing.

Self-help measures such as diet and weight-bearing exercise can help to reduce your risk of fractures, but a number of specific treatments are also available. You're likely to have a bone density scan before you start treatment, although this may not be needed, for example if you're 75 or over. Once you've started treatment your bone density may be monitored in one of the following ways:. If you're taking hormone replacement therapy HRT , you'll also have regular blood pressure checks and breast scans mammograms.

Your bone density should start to improve after 6—12 months, although you may need longer-term treatment to further reduce your fracture risk. Bone renewal is a slow process so it's important to continue treatment as your doctor advises — even though you won't be able to feel whether it's working. Because longer-term treatment can sometimes have side-effects your doctor may suggest a break from your treatment after 3—5 years.

The benefits of osteoporosis treatment last a long time so these won't be lost if your doctor does suggest a 'treatment holiday'. Your treatment will depend on your individual circumstances, and you should discuss this with your doctor.

Types of treatment include:. This drug, which was produced under the brand name Protelos, was discontinued in but is now being produced again under the brand name Aristo. We will have further information on this drug soon. There are many drugs for osteoporosis — used to treat and prevent fractures. Learn different types e. Versus Arthritis About arthritis Conditions Osteoporosis. Download versus Arthritis - Osteoporosis information booklet. Print this page.

What is osteoporosis? The word osteoporosis means spongy porous bone. In childhood and adolescence, new bone is formed very quickly. This allows our bones to grow bigger and stronger denser.