OSTEOPOROSIS Osteoporosis literally means `porous bones`. The bones in our skeleton are made of a thick outer shell and a strong inner mesh filled with collagen (protein), calcium salts and other minerals. The inside looks like honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the spaces between bone. Osteoporosis occurs when the holes between bone become bigger, making it fragile and liable to break easily. Osteoporosis usually affects the whole skeleton but it most commonly causes breaks (fractures) to bone in the wrist, spine and hip. Bone is alive and constantly changing. Old, worn out bone is broken down by cells called osteoclasts and replaced by bone building cells called osteoblasts. This process of renewal is called bone turnover. Facts and figures 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men in the UK will have osteoporosis over the age of 50 Every 3 minutes someone has a fracture due to osteoporosis An estimated 3 million people in the UK suffer from osteoporosis Each year the numbers of people with osteoporosis include over - 70,000 hip fractures - 50,000 wrist fractures - 120,000 spinal fractures Osteoporosis costs the NHS and government over £1.7 billion each year, that`s £5 million each day!
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 11:03:34 +0000
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