Osteoporosis – Arthritis ACT

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a common disease affecting over 1 million Australians.

This disease makes bones become brittle leading to a higher risk of breaks than in normal bone. Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose minerals, such as calcium, more quickly than the body can replace them, causing a loss of bone thickness (bone density or mass).

As bones become thinner and less dense, even a minor bump or fall can cause a serious fracture. A ‘fracture’ is a complete or partial break in a bone. Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, but the most common sites are the hip, spine and wrist. Fractures in the spine due to osteoporosis can result in height loss or changes in posture. Osteoporosis usually has no symptoms until a fracture occurs this is why osteoporosis is often called the ‘silent disease’.

What Causes Osteoporosis?

Being naturally thin or having a smaller frame
Smoking or using tobacco products
Endocrine disorders
Gastrointestinal diseases
Autoimmune disorders
Blood disorders
Certain medications or surgical procedures
Inadequate amounts of dietary calcium
Low vitamin D levels
Lack of physical activity

What Factors Can Increase the Risk of Developing Osteoporosis?

Many people with osteoporosis have several risk factors, but others who develop osteoporosis may not have any specific risk factors. There are some risk factors that you cannot change, and others that you may be able to change. However, by understanding these factors, you may be able to prevent the disease and fractures.

Sex	Changes to Hormones
Age	Diet
Body Size	Other Medical Conditions
Race	Medications
Family History	Lifestyle

What are the Most Common Symptoms?

There typically are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you might have signs and symptoms that include:

Back pain, caused by a broken or collapsed bone in the spine.
Loss of height over time.
A stooped posture.
A bone that breaks much more easily than expected.

How Can Osteoporosis be Prevented?

Throughout life women and men can take simple steps to support bone health:

eat calcium-rich foods as part of a general healthy diet which includes fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains
absorb enough vitamin D
avoid smoking and
limit alcohol consumption
do regular weight-bearing and strength-training activities

How is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?

Currently, the most reliable way to diagnose osteoporosis is to measure bone density with a dual-energy absorptiometry scan or DXA. A DXA scan is a short, painless scan that measures the density of your bones, usually at the hip and spine and, in some cases, the forearm.

How is Osteoporosis Managed?

If you have osteoporosis, it is never too late to seek treatment, as age is one of the main risk factors for osteoporosis and breaks. Treatment can halt bone loss and significantly reduce the risk of fractures.

It is important that your doctor excludes other medical conditions that can cause osteoporosis, including vitamin D deficiency.

Prevention strategies for osteoporosis will help to manage the condition, but you may also need to consider:

safer exercise options
falls prevention
medication.

Want to Learn More?

Healthy Bones Guide https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/hba-consumer-guide-04-12-24.pdf

Calcium Fact Sheet https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/hba-fact-sheet-calcium.pdf

Vitamin D Fact Sheet https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/hba-fact-sheet-vitamin-d-v2-15-08-24.pdf

Exercise Fact Sheet https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hba-fact-sheet-exercise-v2-11-24-digital.pdf