For strong, healthy bones
"all the calcium you need in just two delicious chews"
For strong, healthy bones
"all the calcium you need in just two delicious chews"
Osteoporosis is caused by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. It weakens your bones and increases your susceptibility to fractures, especially on your hips, spine and wrists. It's often called the 'silent disease' because there aren't any symptoms and people often don't know they have it until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture or collapses a vertebra.
Osteoporosis is a major public health threat, affecting one in three women and one in 12 men over the age of 50. But don't worry, osteoporosis isn't an inevitable part of getting older. Most medical experts agree in that can be largely prevented and treated.
We're all potentially at risk of developing osteoporosis because of the bone loss that naturally occurs as we get older. However, women are more at risk than men, as they have smaller, less dense bones and they also experience the menopause, which greatly accelerates bone loss for several years. At the menopause, which normally occurs around the age of 50, the ovaries stop producing oestrogen, which is essential for bone health. As a result, women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years following the menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis. Over-exercising and eating disorders like anorexia nervosa can also upset your hormone balance and lead to bone loss.
Certain people are more likely than others to develop the condition. You're more at risk if you:
Although the potential height and strength of your skeleton is determined by your genes, your lifestyle can significantly influence the amount of bone mass laid down during your bone-forming years and your ability to maintain it later in life.
Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defence against developing osteoporosis later in life. By about the age of 20, the average woman has acquired 98% of her skeletal mass. So if you're in your mid-thirties or older, it's important to maintain the strength of your bones.
These four steps can help you keep your bones as healthy as possible, reducing the risk of osteoporosis:
