Gwyneth Paltrow discovered that she was suffering from osteopenia discovering the problem after undergoing a scan for a leg fracture. Osteoporosis, sometimes referred to as brittle-bone disease, normally occurs in women after they have hit the menopause due to their inability to absorb calcium efficiently. The disease, which has no symptoms apart from the increased risk of fractured bones - typically in the vertebrae, rib, hip and wrist areas. It causes bones to lose their density, which in turn makes them weak and susceptible to fractures. People over the age of 50 are most susceptible to the disease due to a lower bone mineral density. A study released last year for World Osteoporosis Day of 50,000 women based in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait revealed that one in three was at risk of developing the (sometimes fatal) disease.
Though approximately 80 per cent of our bone health is inherited from our parents, there are a number of steps that anyone can take to lower their risk of developing the condition. The first is to eat a varied diet - getting enough calcium is important, but so is getting your five a day, eating lots of protein, and reducing sodium inteake. Being underweight is a risk factor. Lack of vitamin D is known to be one of the most common causes of osteoporosis. Being outside for just 10 to 15 minutes a day is enough to replenish your body's vitamin D supplies. Stop smoking - it lowers bone mineral density. Physical activity, especially weight bearing exercise like running, increases bone mass. Finally, stick to water; there is no outright evidence to suggest that soft drinks can be attributed to osteoporosis, but many of them contain phosphoric acid - which has been linked to lower bone density.
