Prioritise bone health
Healthy bones are at the core of our wellbeing, mobility and independence.
People of all ages should protect their bone health by taking early action for osteoporosis prevention through bone-healthy nutrition, regular weight-bearing physical activity, and avoidance of negative lifestyle factors like smoking, says Osteoporosis New Zealand (ONZ). Following World Osteoporosis Day in October, ONZ wants Kiwis of all ages to take action to prevent the condition.
Every year in New Zealand more than 22,000 fragility fractures occur among people aged 50 years and older. Falls and fractures suffered by older people currently cost the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) NZ$360 million per year. Predictions are that without effective intervention this cost will double to more than NZ$720 million by 2035.
ACC estimates that, by doing nothing to prevent these injuries, the cost of falls and fractures would reach $400 million by 2025.
Experts say that through good nutrition and exercise, younger people can maintain strong bones and reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis in the future. For adults, a bone-healthy lifestyle, timely screening, and access to effective treatments for those at high risk are paramount. For anyone who has experienced a fragility fracture, osteoporosis treatment is an essential consideration to reduce the very high risk of further fractures.
Although osteoporosis can be diagnosed early, most people with osteoporosis are not aware of the underlying condition until a fracture occurs. Even after sustaining a fragility fracture, globally some 80% of patients with osteoporosis are not identified and treated.
ONZ wants everyone to ‘Say no to fragile bones’, and is calling on health care providers to prioritise public education and awareness of bone health and fragility fracture prevention. ONZ Executive Director John Mulka says “By prioritising bone health through preventive measures and early intervention, we can significantly reduce the burden of new fractures, and ultimately improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, and alleviate the strain on our health care system.”
WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS?
Osteoporosis is a disease of bone that progresses silently and can cause bones to become so brittle and break easily, even after a minor fall or bump. No matter what a person’s age, a low impact fall from standing height should not result in a broken bone. A ‘fragility fracture’ can result from low to no trauma. It is a sign of underlying bone weakness and the need for osteoporosis management.
