Over-50s' osteoporosis 'causes fracture every two minutes'
- Published
Osteoporotic bones are weaker and prone to breaks
Bone fractures caused by osteoporosis occur once every two minutes in the UK among the over-50s, figures reveal.
One in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 suffer such fractures, says the National Osteoporosis Society, external.
Usually, no symptoms precede the first fracture, often caused by a minor fall.
And the charity found a fifth of female patients surveyed had not been diagnosed with the condition until they had had three or more broken bones.
One in 10 of these said they had never discussed osteoporosis or bone health with the medical professionals treating their fractures.
After the first break, one in eight people will go on to break another bone within a year and one in five will have another fracture within five years.
To help keep your bones healthy:
stop smoking
cut down on alcohol
do more exercise
eat a healthy diet containing calcium-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables and dairy products
Claire Severgnini, chief executive of the National Osteoporosis Society, said: "Those who are most vulnerable to osteoporosis and fragility fractures are often not aware of the condition or don't recognise the signs that they are at risk.
"The condition can have a huge impact on your quality of life, creating unnecessary months of difficulty with everything from daily tasks such as getting washed in the morning, to driving and even enjoying time with loved ones."
About three million people in the UK have osteoporosis.
Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men. This is because changes in hormone levels with the menopause can affect bone density.