Osteoporosis alert issued over popular medication as doctor warns 'they're not good for bones'

It comes as around 3.5 million people across the UK are thought to be living with osteoporosis, yet many don't realise they could be affected until it's too late.

What's more, figures show most of us have never given our bone health a second thought, with a YouGov poll of over 2,000 adults showing that 79 per cent have never checked how their bones are doing.

Even more surprising is that nearly half didn't know that women face a higher chance of fractures once they hit menopause.

The Royal Osteoporosis Society, which commissioned the research, also revealed just how little we understand about this condition.

Julia Thomson, a nurse manager at the charity, shared some insights about the hidden dangers we should all know about, highlighting how everyday habits might be putting our bones at risk.

Our bones actually reach their strongest point when we hit 30, then it's all downhill from there, Thomson explained.

She added that booze and cigarettes are particularly bad news for our bones and warned about people who keep their weight dangerously low.

"You won't be getting the nutrition your bones need," she warned, noting that when periods stop, it's a sign you're not making enough oestrogen - and that's terrible for bone health.

Certain medications, like steroids, can harm our bones. Thomson noted: "Some steroids play a really important part in the management of lots of conditions like arthritis and some inflammatory bowel conditions, but unfortunately, they’re not good for bones.

"This is because steroids can impact those bone-building cells and dampen their actions. So, it’s important that when these drugs are prescribed that whoever is prescribing them is also thinking about that person’s bone health at the same time."

Fortunately, staying active, eating plenty of calcium-rich foods, avoiding cigarettes and sticking to sensible drinking limits will all help keep your bones happy.

Women face a tougher time when it comes to osteoporosis, and there are two main reasons for this. First off, women naturally build weaker bones than men from the start.

But it's during menopause that things really take a turn. Thomson says we lose the protective benefits of oestrogen around this time - it's a hormone that keeps our bones strong before menopause hits.

"When we lose that protection, our bone loss accelerates," she explained, which is why the risk of developing osteoporosis shoots up.