Is It Common to Get Osteoporosis as You Age?

2025-03-07

Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens the bones and makes them more likely to break. It’s one of the most common age-related diseases, especially among women. But how common is it really—and can anything be done to prevent it?

How Common Is Osteoporosis?

According to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, over 500,000 people in Sweden live with osteoporosis. The risk increases significantly with age:

  • 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over 50 are expected to suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime
  • By age 80, around 50% of women are affected by some degree of bone loss
  • Hip fractures, often caused by osteoporosis, affect over 18,000 people per year in Sweden—most of them over 70

Why Does Aging Cause Bone Loss?

As we get older, our bodies break down bone tissue faster than they can rebuild it. This leads to bones becoming more porous and fragile over time.

In women, bone loss accelerates after menopause, when estrogen levels drop. Estrogen plays a key role in maintaining bone strength.

Other contributing factors include:

  • Reduced physical activity
  • Insufficient calcium and vitamin D
  • Long-term smoking or high alcohol use
  • Heredity
  • Low body weight

Is Osteoporosis Dangerous?

Osteoporosis itself doesn’t hurt—but it increases the risk of serious fractures. These can have a major impact on quality of life:

  • Hip fractures often lead to long hospital stays or loss of independence
  • Vertebral compression fractures can cause chronic pain and a hunched posture
  • Fractures in older adults are associated with a higher risk of death within one year

That’s why it’s so important to detect and prevent osteoporosis early.

Can You Prevent Osteoporosis?

Yes—and it’s never too late to start. Here’s how you can help protect your bones:

1. Exercise

Weight-bearing activities like walking, dancing, stair climbing, and light strength training help stimulate bone growth.

2. Calcium

Your bones need calcium to stay strong. Get it through dairy products, leafy greens, nuts, and some mineral waters.

3. Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Sunlight is the best source, but supplements are often needed during winter—especially for older adults.

4. Avoid Smoking and Excessive Alcohol

Both are linked to faster bone loss and poorer bone quality.

5. Bone Health Checkups

If you have risk factors (like family history, low body weight, or previous fractures), talk to your doctor about a bone density scan (DXA).

Sensorem’s safety alarm has an automatic fall alarm and built-in medication reminder to make everyday life safer for seniors

Sensorem’s personal alarm is an example of a technical aid specifically designed to increase safety for seniors. The personal alarm can automatically trigger the alarm in the event of a fall and then call relatives using the watch’s built-in speakerphone with two-way communication. The safety alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s position on a map in the Sensorem app. The alarm also has a medication reminder, which means that the watch makes a sound and tells the user when it is time to take their medication.

 

 

 

READ ABOUT HOW SENSOREM’S PERSONAL ALARM CAN INCREASE SAFETY IN EVERYDAY LIFE FOR SENIORS