After a cold dark winter, Tasmanians are being reminded to look after their bones on World Osteoporosis Day.
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Arthritis & Osteoporosis Tasmania chief executive Jackie Slyp said bone health was often forgotten about because they couldn’t be seen.
“It’s very much a problem here,” she said.
“The issue in Tasmania is around winter sun and the need for vitamin D, so people need to make sure they’re getting enough.”
The guide suggests people need 30 minutes of sun in the winter compared to seven to 10 minutes in the summer in order to get enough of the sunlight vitamin.
“Exercise, adequate calcium and adequate vitamin D are the important things to remember,” Ms Slyp said.
“Osteoporosis is recognised but it often goes undiagnosed.”
Men are the main target this World Osteoporosis Day, with the tagline, “real men build their strength from within”.
Ms Slype said osteoporosis was more prevalent in women but that it was an issue for men as well, and there needed to be more awareness around that.
Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt urged Australians of all ages to complete a simple online bone health check, to prevent the potentially crippling conditions as they grow older.
“This year’s World Osteoporosis Day theme is ‘Love Your Bones’, a timely reminder of the importance of prevention, with estimates that more than one million Australians may already be suffering from osteoporosis,” he said.
“Early diagnosis and treatment of this chronic condition is the best way to reduce the chance of serious fractures and the broader impacts of broken bones in later years.
“Research shows older people with hip fractures are over three and a half times more likely to die within 12 months than their non-injured counterparts.”
Brittle bones are expected to cost the state $78 million this year, according to figures released by Osteoporosis Australia in June.
About 139,000 Tasmanians aged 50 and above have brittle bones, which is expected to rise during the next five years, the organisation’s report revealed.