Understanding Osteoporosis: A Plain-English Explainer

It has no symptoms until a bone breaks, and the first fracture substantially raises the risk of the next.

Key takeaways

• Diagnosis: DEXA scan measuring bone density
• Risk assessment tools: FRAX and QFracture
• Most useful single change: Do resistance and weight-bearing impact exercise.
• Commonest mistake: Assuming it is an inevitable part of ageing.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

The short answer

Reduced bone density and quality, increasing the risk of fracture from minor trauma.

Where it fits

This is part of Bone And Joint. Guidance sets out what to look for and what to do about it, which is what the rest of this page covers.

The numbers, in one place

What that means in practice

What to do with all of that:

• Do resistance and weight-bearing impact exercise
• Meet calcium needs from food and take vitamin D
• Ask for a fracture risk assessment if you have risk factors
• Address falls risk, which determines whether weak bone actually breaks

What gets people into trouble

And the things that tend to go wrong:

• Assuming it is an inevitable part of ageing
• Smoking and heavy alcohol, both of which reduce bone density
• Stopping bone medication early without discussing it

Where to go next

• Osteoporosis: What to Do, in Order
• Osteoporosis: Common Myths and What Guidelines Say
• Osteoporosis — the reference entry
• What the Guidance Really Says About Inflammatory Arthritis
• The Evidence on Gout, Without the Hype

When to speak to a doctor

See a GP if you have broken a bone from a minor fall, lost height, developed a stooped posture, or have taken oral steroids for more than three months. Seek urgent assessment for sudden severe back pain, which can indicate a vertebral fracture, particularly with a history of osteoporosis.

Where this comes from

• NICE — Osteoporosis: assessing the risk of fragility fracture
• Royal Osteoporosis Society — about osteoporosis

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.