World Osteoporosis Day - 20th October 2016
October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day, so no better time than the present to consider how and why we need to take better care of our bones.
Osteoporosis affects over 1 million Australians, with over 155,000 broken bones expected this year due to poor bone health.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and fragile. They can break easily – even a minor fall, a bump, a sneeze, or a sudden movement can cause a fracture. Osteoporotic fractures can be life-threatening and a major cause of pain and long-term disability.
Can osteoporosis be prevented?
Yes, it can. Whilst some conditions do increase the risk of development (such as coeliac disease and diabetes, and gluco-corticoid use), along with family history also playing a role, taking action to prevent it from happening is possible.
Incorporate weight-bearing and muscle strengthening exercise, make healthy diet choices, ensuring your intake is rich in calcium, protein and vitamin D (through sun exposure, supplements or food), reducing alcohol intake, and avoiding smoking. Determining risk factors, and getting your bone density tested are both useful ways of helping you know where you are up to, and if any action does in fact need to be taken.
http://www.osteoporosis.org.au/WOD2016
http://www.osteoporosis.org.au/sites/default/files/files/WOD16-patient_brochure-pOAEDIT(1).pdf
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