Many people accept that becoming smaller and hunched over is a normal part of the ageing process, as are hip replacements. These perceptions are wrong.

Osteoporosis has become a major diseases threat, with a woman’s risk of sustaining a hip fracture equal to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

When menopause occurs, the rate of bone loss accelerates and is particularly fast in the first ten years after menopause.

Many people are sacred that exercise will increase their risk of bone fractures. The contrary is actually true, as physical activity actually maintains bone mass.

How much do you know about the basics of osteoporosis? A press release from MediClinic gives it to you in a nutshell.

Women have always been considered at most risk of developing osteoperosis, because of having a lower bone mass. After menopause, the risk increases even further.

A computerised study of hip bones suggests that certain exercises could limit the steep increase in hip fracture risk that occurs as people grow old, British researchers report.

Calcium deficiency can cause low bone density and osteoporosis. Large intakes of magnesium and too much phosphorus, found in fizzy soft drinks, can upset your calcium balance.

HRT clearly decreases the turnover of bone and prevents the loss of bone which occurs once you are in the menopause.

So what is there you can do to prevent osteoporosis when you grow older?

A bone scan is an X-ray that can show bone loss in the spine and hip area. The test takes about 10 – 20 minutes. It does not hurt at all.

If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, pay a visit to your doctor to check your bone mineral density.

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