20 October is World Osteoporosis Day. It is often referred to as the ‘silent epidemic’ because it causes no symptoms for a very long time, even decades, and people are unaware of their bone loss.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis means that the bone mass is reduced, its structure changes and becomes porous and less solid, which together lead to an increased risk of fractures. The most common fractures caused by osteoporosis are fractures of the spine, wrist, femoral neck and pelvis. In Hungary, around one million people are affected by osteoporosis, with an estimated 15-17,000 femoral neck fractures and 30,000 wrist fractures and at least the same number of vertebral fractures each year. Unfortunately, fractures in older age are associated with slow healing, months of physiotherapy and possibly medication, and a very high percentage of people who suffer a fracture do not recover fully.
Osteoporosis affects both sexes. Its prevalence is higher in women, mainly due to hormonal changes during menopause, when conscious bone protection is particularly important. Men are more likely to be affected because of an inadequate lifestyle, genetic predisposition or low vitamin D levels.
After the age of 40, special attention should be paid to the preservation of bone mass, because after this age, bone loss processes are accelerated.
Can osteoporosis be prevented?
Osteoporosis is preventable, but health-conscious behavior is necessary from a young age. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, low body weight, insufficient intake of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, and physical inactivity. Statistics show that nearly a third of school-age children are calcium deficient, while 90% of adults are vitamin D deficient. For children, regular exercise and a varied diet – especially calcium-rich nutrients and vitamin D supplementation – are essential for a strong and well-built skeleton as young adults.
As adults, the best thing you can do for your bone health is to eat a variety of good quality foods and make sure to intake and supply adequate vitamins. You can also help prevent it with laboratory tests. The Bone metabolism package provides information about vitamin D and vitamin B12 levels as well as whether there are signs of osteoporosis. You can also check the hormonal regulation of your bones with our extended package.
Our Bone metabolism packages are available at a discounted price in October:
Price of Bone metabolism 1 package: 9 500 HUF 10 950 HUF
Price of Bone metabolism 2 package: 25 000 HUF 28 000 HUF
Price of Bone metabolism Plus package: 44 000 HUF 48 700 HUF
Book your laboratory tests as soon as possible, from the comfort of your home, via our online appointment booking system: