Osteoporosis is a common, long-term disease. It’s when your bones become less dense and fragile due to a decrease of minerals such as calcium. If you have osteoporosis, you are more likely to fracture a bone if you fall over. It’s estimated that 6.2 million Australians, aged 50 years or older, had osteoporosis or osteopenia in 2022.

Everyone’s bones become weaker as they age, but in some people this process happens too quickly. Women often rapidly lose bone density after the onset of menopause. There is no cure for osteoporosis, but the symptoms of your disease can be managed with medicines and lifestyle changes.

Risk Factors for Osteoporosis:

• older age
• being female (and having early menopause)
• having a history of fractures
• a family history of hip fractures
• hyperthyroidism
• some medicines — such as cancer treatments and corticosteroids

How to reduce the risk?:

• eating foods containing calcium and protein
• getting enough vitamin D from the sun
• quit smoking
• maintaining a healthy weight
• cutting back on alcohol
• exercising

To learn more, contact our friendly team to see how we can assist you today.