During the last decade, Danica Bešević from Užice broke her groin bone and both arms.
Osteoporosis, a disease that has no symptoms, was diagnosed only after the fracture.
"I didn't have any problems, but suddenly I started to break down," the 73-year-old retired doctor told the BBC in Serbian.
This metabolic disease causes bone loss, and it affects women more often than men, the Association of Rheumatic Diseases of Serbia (ORS) told the BBC in Serbian.
In Serbia, there is no registry of patients, and in the International Foundation for Osteoporosis evaluate that a third of women over the age of 60, as well as every fifth man over the age of 50, suffer from the disease.
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How is it revealed?
Osteoporosis does not have any symptoms, and it is detected by special analyses.
"It is a silent process, which can be effectively prevented, and in the event of an illness, it can be successfully treated," says Dr. Mirjana Lapčević, president of ORS, for the BBC in Serbian.
Patients usually do not even know they have osteoporosis until a bone fracture occurs.
After the first fracture, Danica Bešević underwent a special X-ray examination, which measures bone mass density.
"I have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for years, which increases the risk of osteoporosis, so it was no surprise to me," says Bešević.
Postmenopausal women, who have a low body weight and fair complexion, are at particular risk of osteoporosis, says Lapčević.
"Both men and women, the risk of osteoporosis increases if they smoke, are physically inactive and drink more than two glasses of alcohol a day," explains the doctor.
Lack of calcium and vitamin D contributes to the decrease in bone density.
Life with osteoporosis and how to prevent it
Today, Bešević walks with the help of a cane.
"That's not unusual for my age," he smiles.
Due to rheumatoid arthritis, she is advised to do moderate physical activity, and knowing that she has osteoporosis has made her cautious.
"Everywhere I go, I just make sure I don't break something," she says.
Therapy involves taking different groups of drugs, says Dr. Lapčević.
One of them is bisphosphonates, drugs that prevent bone loss, and anabolics are also used, which stimulate protein synthesis.
"Patients with osteoporosis are advised to take vitamin D and calcium supplements in order to improve bone density," adds the doctor.
Prevention of osteoporosis is based, above all, on healthy lifestyle habits.
"Physical activity, avoidance of alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine, as well as an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D are advised," says Lapčević.
It is very important to prevent the first fracture.
"A fracture increases the risk of new fractures by two to five times," emphasizes Dr. Lapčević.
"I take supplements, and I try to drink goat's milk, as well as eat at least a cube of cheese a day," says Bešević.
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