Queen Camilla confessed that her mother and grandmother died of osteoporosis. On this occasion, the wife of King Charles III appealed to the elderly to be regularly checked for this disease. Osteoporosis acts discreetly but effectively – that’s why it’s called the “silent thief of bones”.
- Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease.
- The goal of osteoporosis treatment is to preserve bone mass above the “fracture threshold”.
- Not only pharmacotherapy but also fracture prevention, including nutrient supplementation and regular bone examinations, is important.
According to Sky News, in the UK, the disease affects as many as 50 per cent of women over the age of 50. The portal also points out that as many people die annually from bone disease as from diabetes or lung cancer. Queen spouse Camilla pointed out that her mother and grandmother contracted the disease back in the days when osteoporosis was rarely diagnosed and treated. That’s why she founded the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) in 2019 – a charity dedicated to improving the prevention, detection and treatment of the disease.
At the time, the disease was rarely discussed, diagnosed and usually just considered an inevitable part of aging
– Sky News website quotes the Queen’s wife Camilla as saying.
Osteoporosis – what is this bone disease?
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease. It is devastating and leads to disability. It causes the weakening of bones (pathological reduction of their mass) and increases the risk of fractures. “The most common victims of Osteoporosis are hips, wrists and spine, but in fact, the whole skeleton can be affected. Unfortunately, we often find out that we have fallen victim of this disease when the worst has already happened, that is when our bones have broken.
Women are more exposed to osteoporosis. It is worth remembering that not only gender determines the risk of developing this disease. The probability of the disease increases in general in people of advanced age and frail body build. It also depends on family predisposition, previous fractures, medications and lifestyle (e.g. lack of exercise, alcohol abuse).