Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes bones to become less dense and more fragile. Some people are more at risk than others.
Bones are at their thickest and strongest in your early adult life and their density increases until your late 20s. You gradually start losing bone densityfrom around the age of35.
This happensto everyone, but some peopledevelop osteoporosis and lose bone density much faster than normal. This means they're at greater risk of a fracture.
Osteoporosis can affect men and women.It's more common in older people, but it can also affect younger people.
Women are more at risk of developing osteoporosis than men becausethe hormone changes that occur in the menopause directly affect bone density.
The female hormone oestrogen is essential for healthy bones. After the Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) (when monthly periods stop), oestrogen levels fall. This canlead to a rapid decrease in bone density.
Women are at even greater risk of developing osteoporosis if they have:
In most cases, the cause ofosteoporosis in men is unknown. However, there's a link to the male hormone testosterone, which helps keep the bones healthy.
Men continue producingtestosterone into old age, but the risk of osteoporosis is increased inmen with low levels of testosterone.
In around half of men, the exact cause of low testosterone levelsis unknown, but known causes include:
Many hormones in the body can affect the process of bone turnover. If you have a conditionof the hormone-producing glands, you may have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.
Hormone-related conditions that can trigger osteoporosis include:
Other factors thought toincrease the risk of osteoporosis and broken bones include:
You can read more about who's at risk of osteoporosis and broken bones on the National Osteoporosis Society website .
Read about osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. Osteopenia is also a term used for bone density loss
Osteoporosis causes bones to become less dense and more fragile. Some people are more at risk than others.
Treating osteoporosis involves treating and preventing fractures and using medication to strengthen bones.
Your genes are responsible for determining your height and the strength of your skeleton, but lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise influence how healthy your bones are.
Having osteoporosis doesn't mean you'll definitely have a fracture. There are measures you can take to reduce your risk of a fall or break.
Bob Rees was diagnosed with osteoporosis after collapsing in pain on a family holiday.
Phyllis Long, aged 60, was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis after months of experiencing upper back pain.