Women are four times more likely than men to develop the condition and about 30 per cent of women over 50 develop osteoporosis. There is no cure but the disease can be treated and can also be prevented by taking simple steps. If osteoporosis is not prevented or treated it can progress painlessly until a bone breaks, typically in the hip, spine or wrist with hipfractures usually requiring major surgery. Our bones act like scaffolding, providing structural support for muscles, protecting vital organs and storing the calcium which is essential for bone density and strength. Bone is a complex tissue and undergoes constant turnover involving the buildup and breakdown of tissue.
Bones are constantly changing, they heal after injury and are affected by diet and exercise.
Until the age of about 30 you build bone faster than you break it down, but during the later ageing process your bones break down faster than new bone is formed. The critical years for building bone are from pre-adolescence to about age 30. Women are more likely than men to develop osteoporosis because, on average, their bones are smaller and less dense than mens' bones. Also, bone loss accelerates after the menopause when the ovaries stop producing the female sex hormone that protects against bone loss. Based on this assessment you may be referred for a bone mass measurement.