1. Have either of your parents broken a hip after a minor bump or fall?
Yes No
2. Have you broken a bone after a minor bump or fall?
Yes No
3. Have you taken corticosteroid tablets (cortisone, prednisone, etc) for more than
3 months?
Yes No
4. Have you lost more than 3cm (just over 1 inch) in height?
Yes No
5. Do you regularly drink heavily (in excess of safe drinking limits?)
Yes No
6. Do you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day?
Yes No
7. Do you suffer frequently from diarrhoea caused by problems such as coeliac disease or Crohn's disease?
Yes No
8. Did you undergo menopause before the age of 45?
Yes No
9. Have your periods stopped for 12 months or more (other than because of pregnancy?)
Yes No
If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you may be at risk of developing osteoporosis, and it is recommended that you consult your doctor who will advise whether further tests or treatment may be necessary. Take this checklist with you.
A leaflet, Building Better Bones, provides more information about osteoporosis and offers basic advice about what you can do to reduce your risk of getting osteoporosis. It includes a recipe for a 'Bone Booster' drink which you can treat yourself to daily. The leaflet is available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to
Building Better Bones, PO Box 77, East Horsley, KT24 5YP.
Adapted from the International Osteoporosis Foundation 'Millennium one minute osteoporosis risk test'. Contact the IOF at www.osteofound.org
