It is estimated that as many as one in four women will experience serious problems associated with osteoporosis by the time they are 60.
Download: Women's Health Series: Osteoporosis
Date Posted: 1 June 2010
What is
Osteoporosis
Put simply, osteoporosis is
a term used to describe loss of bone tissue. It is the most common
bone disorder.
Like all living tissue, bone
is constantly being broken down and re-formed. New bone is required
for growth, for repair of damage resulting from everyday physical
stress and for the replacement of worn-out bone. It is estimated
that adults have between 10% - 30% of their bone replaced each year
through this process.
As we age, we all experience bone loss. Bone loss in men occurs
at about 0.4% per year, beginning at age 50, but does not usually
present a problem until age 80.
In women, however, bone loss begins at about age 30 at a rate of
0.75% - 1% per year.
Osteoporosis is the word
used to describe this loss of bone. It is a part of the general
ageing process but for some women the process is accelerated during
and after the menopause.
For Further
Information
See Our Bodies, Our
Selves edited by Angela Phillips and Jill Rakusen.
The
National Osteoporosis Society,
Camerton
Bath BA2 0PJ
Helpline: 0845 450 0230
Website: http://www.nos.org.uk/
To find out more about the
work of the Divisional Equalities Forums and Usdaw's equality work,
or about joining Usdaw contact:
The Equalities Section
Usdaw
188 Wilmslow Road
Manchester
M14 6LJ
Tel: 0161-224 2804
Alternatively, you can
e-mail the Equalities
Department and also join Usdaw
online.
Osteoporosis (Women's Health Series - Leaflet 1) was
correct at date of publication June 2010.