Bone health is a very real concern for women in mid and later life, because when they go through the menopause, oestrogen levels drop rapidly and bones lose strength at a much faster rate. There are 3.5 million people living with osteoporosis in the UK today, and 50% of women and 20% of men over 50 will break a bone because of it. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to lose strength and break more easily. However, it’s often referred to as a ‘silent disease’ because of under-diagnosis, under-treatment and low levels of public awareness. 

The theme of this year’s World Menopause Day is bone health, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get some expert advice from a woman who knows all about bones. I’m delighted to be speaking to Sarah Leyland, who is an osteoporosis specialist nurse currently working as a clinical adviser with the Royal Osteoporosis Society. With over 20 years of experience in providing specialist advice, guidance and support, she’s exactly the person we need to tell us how we can support our bone density and reduce the risk of fractures that can be a very real concern for women, post menopause. 

Sarah and I discuss what bones are made of and how they renew themselves. She explains the various risk factors for low bone density and why it’s important to assess your own fracture risk, as well as talking us through the diet and lifestyle factors that can affect your bones, plus the various treatment options available. 

It was fascinating to hear about her work at The Royal Osteoporosis Society, which is the UK’s only national charity dedicated to bone health and osteoporosis. They work to improve the bone health of the nation and support everyone with osteoporosis to live well through their support services and advice. Their free Helpline, run by a team of specialist nurses, including Sarah herself, provides information and support to anyone with questions about their bone health or osteoporosis.

This really is an episode that covers everything you might want to know about bones, so tune in for her excellent practical advice. 

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Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

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Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.