Osteoporosis: not only the elderly are at risk
Brittle bones
If you thought it was only the elderly who were prone to brittle bones, think again, as a growing number of young women have dangerously low bone density – often the first sign of osteoporosis.No woman is safe from this disease. It is a major cause of hip, wrist and spinal fractures in women over 50, causes extreme immobility and is responsible for more deaths than cancer of the ovaries, womb and cervix combined.
Projections from the National Osteoporosis Society show that the disease is taking on epidemic proportions – there are currently three million sufferers but this figure is set to rise dramatically over the next few decades. At present one in three women and one in 12 men over 50 develop the disease, but the most significant rise has been among women in their twenties and thirties.
What is osteoporosis?
It occurs when the inner mesh of the bones filled with collagen, calcium salts and other minerals become fragile and more susceptible to breaks and fractures. All women are at risk of developing the disease in later life – usually after the menopause – because bone mass naturally declines from the age of 35 due to changes in the balance of hormones that control bone building. Genetics are also important, as osteoporosis is hereditary in 70% of cases.Why is it becoming epidemic?
One reason is that the disease has only become fully understood and the dangers publicised over the last ten years.Although genes determine factors such as the potential height and strength of the human skeleton, lifestyle factors influence the amount of bone you store and the most important years for building up bone mass are the teenage years, when a good intake of calcium and minerals and exercise are vital for storing a ‘bone bank’ for later life.
