About Osteoporosis
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is the name given to the medical condition when bones become thinner and less dense, so that even a small event can cause a serious break or bone fracture.
The inner core of bone is made up of a honeycomb-like structure with many interconnecting links. It is this inner core, called trabecular bone, that is most affected by osteoporosis. The links become thin and many disappear altogether, leaving bones porous and brittle. Osteoporosis can occur throughout the bones of the body, but the most common places are the hip, spine, wrist, ribs, pelvis and upper arm.
Healthy bones do not usually break unless they are subjected to significant force, such as falling off a ladder or heavy impact during a sports game. People with osteoporosis have bones that may break during normal activities such as small bumps or falls from standing. These fractures are known as ‘minimal trauma’ or osteoporotic fractures. Prevention of osteoporotic fractures is the main goal for identifying and treating osteoporosis.
Many people may be living with osteoporosis without knowing it. Osteoporosis is not always diagnosed even after a person experiences an osteoporosis-related fracture. The Australian Bone Care study showed that nearly one in every three postmenopausal women reported at least one low-trauma fracture after menopause. Less than one-third of these women were taking specific treatment for osteoporosis, and only 40% were ever told they had osteoporosis.1
References
- International Osteoporosis Foundation. The burden of brittle bones. Epidemiology, costs & burden of osteoporosis in Australia – 2007. Available from www.iofbonehealth.org
.jpg)