Know Your Bones™ It could save your life.

As we age, so do our bodies.

Wrinkles appear. Aches and pains pop up. Hair starts to grow in strange places, and falls out in others. We begin noticing we’re not as energetic or strong as we once were.

Internal changes are happening too – and one of the most important ones concerns our bones. We lose bone strength as we age, and this puts us at risk of developing osteoporosis.

Often called the 'silent disease', osteoporosis occurs without any symptoms. In fact, many people only become aware that there’s an issue with their bones when they break one. One in three women and one in five men will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime.

Hip fractures are of particular concern, and every year almost 3,700 New Zealanders suffer from a broken hip. 50% of them will never return to full mobility again. 25% of them will die.

Fortunately, it’s never too early (or too late)! to know your bones. Your bones are made up of active, living tissue, and whether you’re 2 or 92 you replace almost your entire skeleton every 8-10 years. This means that building healthy bones early in life can reduce the serious risks associated with osteoporosis in later years.

If you want to identify your personal risk of osteoporosis, just take a few minutes to complete the Know your Bones test, and learn the simple steps you can take to improve your bone health.