Millions of people break a bone each year, and most of us will at some point in our lives. For the young, a broken wrist is the most common. For the elderly, the big concerns are hip, forearm and vertebral fractures.
Bones protect internal organs, store minerals and give your body structure. They are made of an intricate edifice of mineralized tissue laid down by bone cells, or osteocytes. Although out of view, bones are alive and should be treated well. You will lead a happier skeletal life when you exercise and eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D. Your 40 billion osteocytes can live for decades, but bones do weaken with age. As your body breaks down old bone and rebuilds it with stronger material, some bone matter is lost. Osteoporosis is the condition when bones become weak and are more susceptible to breaking. Worldwide, osteoporosis affects hundreds of millions of people and causes nearly 10 million fractures annually. For those over the age of 50, this occurs in 30% of women and 20% of men.
Excellent get well gift for people post-surgery and for wishing someone a speedy recovery.