You may think it’s just a minor problem, but a bone fracture can signal major trouble, especially for older adults.

“There are certain types of fractures that are higher risk than others,” says Dr. Charles Springer, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System. He says hip fractures are especially dangerous. “A hip fracture in the elderly is a life-changing experience. Not only is it a single injury, it requires typically surgery and then to be able to recover from a large surgery such as that is often difficult.”

The Journal of the American Medical Association finds that seniors suffering a fractured hip were at a higher risk of dying over the next 10 years than those who didn’t. “It requires a significant amount of rehab and some patients whether they live in a nursing home, some are disabled to begin with, others have mental status changes, which makes rehab very difficult.”

Dr. Springer says maintaining a healthy lifestyle can prevent bone fractures in the long run. “Good exercise, healthy diet, keep the excess weight off, those things are going to be much more beneficial for you.”

Since women tend to fracture more than men, Dr. Springer also recommends women have a bone density test to determine their risk factor.