What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone thinning disease that results when bone resorption (breaking down) outstrips bone formation.
Osteopenia is the condition that precedes osteoporosis where the bones are beginning to deteriorate and show weakness. If left unaddressed, osteopenia often progresses to osteoporosis.
Prevention better than ‘cure’
Osteoporosis doesn’t just affect ‘frail old ladies’ – it’s not uncommon for people in their 40s and 50s who appear fit, active and well to discover they have the disease. Osteoporosis is known as the ‘silent disease’ because it can progress unnoticed for many years until a fracture occurs. In the UK, we don’t routinely have a DEXA (bone) scan until after one or more fractures have occurred. By then it’s too late – your bone health is already compromised. This makes you vulnerable to common fracture sites linked to osteoporosis: the thigh bone (femur), at the hip, vertebrae and wrist.
