National Osteoporosis Society

The National Osteoporosis Society is the only UK wide charity dedicated to improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

With over 25,000 members, 50 staff and more than 900 volunteers across the UK, the charity is well placed to provide unrivalled expertise in the fields of osteoporosis and bone health

The National Osteoporosis Society works to

• increase understanding and awareness of osteoporosis;
• inform and unite health professionals; fund research into osteoporosis and fractures resulting from fragile bones;
• influence governments and healthcare providers to offer systematic, high-quality care for people at risk of fractures; and
• offer caring support to those affected by osteoporosis

Broken bones are not an inevitable part of ageing and much can be done to prevent them. For people with or at risk of fragile bones, the National Osteoporosis Society offers information, support and better services. With early intervention, broken bones can be avoided

The Helpline service ensures that a qualified nurse is just a phone call away when someone faces difficult times or has unanswered questions as a result of fragile bones. Through the nurses, they help people to take control of their lives, make informed choices

A team of eight nurses is on hand every weekday between 9am and 5pm and can be contacted by phone (0845 4500 230), email [email protected], or post. They also welcome enquiries from healthcare professionals

Information

A key part of the National Osteoporosis Society’s work is to ensure that support and information is available for everyone who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, those who have had a fracture due to fragile bones and those who are worried about themselves or loved ones

They provide a wide range of services to help people learn how to prevent osteoporosis, or to manage living with the disease and the fractures it causes, and they also support health professionals in providing better services

Visit www.nos.org.uk or email [email protected] to request an Information Pack.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is very common and leads to bones becoming increasingly fragile and more susceptible to fracture. These debilitating fractures are known as ‘fragility fractures’

Three million people in the UK are estimated to have osteoporosis and there are about 300,000 fragility fractures in the UK every year. Shockingly, one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone, mainly because of poor bone health

Osteoporosis is often termed the ‘silent disease’ as there are no symptoms prior to a fracture. However, once a person has broken a bone, their risk of breaking another bone increases dramatically

Fragile bones can break easily. Wrist fractures can occur after minor falls and ribs can break as a result of something as simple as coughing

Research

Osteoporosis is an under-resourced area of medical research, yet more people are living with fragile bones than ever before. The Charity must currently turn down five out of every six research applications we receive due to limited funds, but since 12994 has dedicated £2.9 million to research projects

The National Osteoporosis Society is an independent charity and relies on generous donations to continue its vital, life-changing work. They do not receive funding from any government or the NHS.

To find out more about the National Osteoporosis Society, or to make a donation, visit www.nos.org.uk

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