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Half of all women and one in four men over the age of 60 will suffer from an osteoporotic facture in their lifetime, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Osteoporosis Australia.
All together, at least 600,000 Australians are affected by the disease, which causes bones to become fragile and weak and increases the risk of fracture, according to the report entitled A picture of osteoporosis in Australia.
“These fractures may lead to chronic pain, activity restrictions, loss of independence and, sometimes, death,” said Dr Kuldeep Bhatia, Head of the AIHW's National Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions.
But the report also highlighted that osteoporosis is a ‘silent’ disease, noting that it usually shows no signs or symptoms and often remains undiagnosed until a fracture occurs.
Once identified, management of osteoporosis includes medication, exercise, physical therapy and healthy eating.
About 43 per cent of Australians with osteoporosis take pharmaceuticals and 40 per cent use vitamin or mineral supplements, such as calcium and Vitamin D.
But the Medical Director of Osteoporosis Australia, Professor Peter Ebeling said the condition is largely preventable, if people maintain a healthy diet, consume adequate calcium and vitamin D levels, perform regular exercise and don’t smoke.
“These actions can also help people with osteoporosis to reduce their risk of fracture,” he said.
The report was funded by the Department of Health and Ageing and launched by the Minsiter for Health and Ageing, Justine Elliot.
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