What is Osteoporosis?

Our bones are made up of living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis develops when our bodies break down old bone much faster than it can produce new bone. Osteoporosis means ‘porous bone’ – a reasonably common condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle.

The inside of a healthy piece of bone has lots of small spaces, almost resembling a honeycomb. Osteoporosis causes the bone mineral density and the bone mass to decrease, making these spaces bigger. It can also cause the outer bone to become thinner and weaker.

Osteoporosis rarely has symptoms, and most people are only diagnosed when they have a minor injury that causes a bone fracture or break. People with osteoporosis will also take longer to recover from fractures or bone breaks. Certain risk factors increase your chances of developing osteoporosis, including:

1. Being older than 50
2. Being female
3. Having a family history of osteoporosis
4. Poor nutrition (not getting enough calcium, vitamin D, or protein)
5. Not exercising enough
6. Smoking
7. Having a smaller frame

Once diagnosed, your healthcare provider will suggest a treatment plan, most likely including exercises to strengthen your bones, a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and medication. 

If you want to maintain strong, healthy bones, we recommend trying the IPS Calmag. It contains calcium to help support bone health and vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. 

Resources:

• National Institute on Aging, 2022, Osteoporosis, accessed 17 October 2023, <https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/osteoporosis>
• Healthline, 2023, What do you want to know about osteoporosis?, accessed 17 October 2023, <https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoporosis>