Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
π¨Emergency? If you have severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, or think it's an emergency, call 000 immediately.
Osteoporosis (Weak Bones)
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, increasing fracture risk. Learn about bone density testing, prevention strategies, and treatments including calcium, vitamin D, and medications available in Australia.
πWhat is Osteoporosis (Weak Bones)?
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, increasing fracture risk. Learn about bone density testing, prevention strategies, and treatments including calcium, vitamin D, and medications available in Australia.
π¬What Causes It?
- Aging - bone density naturally decreases after age 30-35
- Menopause - loss of estrogen accelerates bone loss in women
- Insufficient calcium and vitamin D throughout life
- Long-term steroid medication use (prednisolone)
- Overactive thyroid or parathyroid glands
- Malabsorption conditions (coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease)
- Cancer treatments (hormone therapy for breast or prostate cancer)
- Chronic kidney or liver disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis and some other inflammatory conditions
β οΈRisk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Being female (women lose bone faster than men, especially after menopause)
- Age over 50 (risk increases with age)
- Family history of osteoporosis or hip fracture
- Thin or small body frame (BMI under 19)
- Early menopause (before age 45) or surgical removal of ovaries
- Low testosterone in men
- Never having had children (in women)
- Long-term steroid use (more than 3 months)
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption (more than 2 drinks daily)
- Sedentary lifestyle and lack of weight-bearing exercise
- Eating disorders or low body weight
- Poor diet low in calcium and vitamin D
- Asian or Caucasian ethnicity (higher risk than other ethnicities)
π‘οΈPrevention
- βBuild strong bones in youth - adequate calcium and exercise during childhood/adolescence
- βMaintain calcium intake 1200mg daily from age 50 (dairy, fortified foods, supplements)
- βVitamin D 800-1000 IU daily (sun exposure and supplements)
- βRegular weight-bearing exercise throughout life (walking, dancing, tennis, resistance training)
- βDon't smoke (smoking accelerates bone loss)
- βLimit alcohol to 2 standard drinks daily maximum
- βMaintain healthy body weight (being underweight increases risk)
- βFall prevention in elderly (home safety, vision checks, appropriate footwear)
- βIf taking steroids, discuss bone protection with doctor
- βTreat medical conditions affecting bones (thyroid, coeliac disease, etc)
- βConsider bone density testing at menopause or age 50 if risk factors