Are You at Risk of ‘Bones with Holes’?

Are You at Risk of ‘Bones with Holes’?
Caption: 'Bones with holes' literally refers to osteoporosis. This bone disease occurs when bones lose minerals like calcium at a faster rate than the body can replace them. As a result, bones become less dense, lose strength and break more easily. In fact, according to the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Changi General Hospital (CGH), most people are unaware that they have this condition until a fracture happens. Read on to learn about the warning signs of this 'silent disease'. (iStock photo)

Osteoporosis particularly affects women in their middle and later years, although some men are also affected. Women are four times more likely to suffer from osteoporosis than men. Half of women over the age of 50 will experience a fracture to their hip, wrist, spine, or other bone due to osteoporosis. These facts were shared by the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Changi General Hospital (CGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

Risk factors for osteoporosis

Some factors that may predispose an individual to osteoporosis include:

Family history of osteoporosis
Inadequate amounts of dietary calcium
Low vitamin D levels
Smoking
Alcohol intake of more than two standard drinks per day
Early menopause (before the age of 45)
Long-term use of medication such as corticosteroids and anti-epileptics
Medical history, such as thyroid disease or an overactive thyroid gland

Related article: Foods to avoid as they can harm your bones

FAQs about osteoporosis

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about osteoporosis.

1. How do I know if I have osteoporosis?

As osteoporosis is a silent disease, it causes no specific pain or symptoms. Some signs you can look out for are:

Receding gums
Decreased strength in your grips
Weak and brittle nails
Cramps and muscle aches
Height loss

2. Besides calcium, what are other essential nutrients vital for good bone health?

When it comes to healthy bones and preventing osteoporosis, calcium alone is not enough. There are a number of vital nutrients that your body needs for strong bones. The most important of these are magnesium, vitamin D, phosphorus and vitamin K.

Magnesium is found in nuts, seeds, whole grains, seafood, legumes, tofu and many vegetables. Our skin, when exposed to sunlight, also produces vitamin D, which helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphate. You can also get vitamin D from oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, as well as red meat and eggs.

Other nutrients that may play an important role in bone development are vitamin C and vitamin B12.

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