When Nicole Kidman broke two ribs while shooting for Moulin Rouge, she decided a visit to the doctor was in order.
According to ananova.com
, the Oscar-winning actress has undergone tests for osteoporosis, a medical condition in which the bones become fragile and brittle from lack of calcium. Bones become weak and are likely to suffer cracks and fractures if the disease is left untreated. Any bone can be affected, but the ones that are most worrying are fractures of the hip and spine, both of which require hospitalisation and major surgery.Overwork and an imbalanced diet are said to have taken a toll on Kidman, who recently took a bone density test to check for signs of the condition.
The disease, which can prove fatal, is often caused by excessive weight loss. Reports in The Daily Mail point out that the 37-year-old actress is the thinnest she has ever been, and is acutely aware of her weight problem. The paper adds that she has also been unhappy following her break-up with pop star Lenny Kravitz.
Osteoporosis can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including severe back pain, and deformity. In extreme cases, it may also lead to death.
Fans needn't worry though. Kidman has always come across as a woman with her head firmly on her shoulders. And you know what they say about a stitch in time...
