Radio host’s shock as fall leads to osteoporosis diagnosis
WHEN broadcaster Iain Dale broke his hip in a fall last May he never considered he might be suffering from osteoporosis.
The 61-year-old radio presenter was taken to London’s Stthomas’ Hospital in agony and given a hip replacement.
Two months later he was sent for a bone density scan which revealed he had “significant” weakness due to the potentially devastating condition.
He was put on bonestrengthening drugs, but is still wary of falling.the author and political commentator, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said: “I feel like an old person at just 61.
“When I was told by my GP that I had significant osteoporosis I thought, ‘wow’.
“It had never occurred to me I could have it as I thought it was something only women got.
“I do a lot of health-related things on my radio show and I was surprised I didn’t know this.”
Iain added: “My mother had osteoporosis. She woke up one morning when she was in her mid-70s screaming in pain. She had broken her femur doing nothing. It never crossed my mind that I’d get it too.”
Although Iain, an ambassador for the Royal Osteoporosis Society, tries to improve his bone health with regular gym visits, playing golf and taking vitamin D and calcium supplements, he is still worried about fractures.
“I am now very conscious of falling or of people knocking me over, because I know I could break something else,” said the Cambridge-born star.
“It’s always in the back of my mind as any fall could be serious.” Twice voted radio presenter of the year, Iain is now highlighting the need for people to take osteoporosis seriously.
“In the end, I just have to suck it up. All I can do is help spread awareness of the disease and its implications. There are things we can all do to improve our bone health, but only if we realise we could be at risk.
“Given the cost of treating broken bones, improving access to bone screening would likely save money in the long term.”