Osteoporosis is a disorder that results in weaker, porous bones. In osteoporosis, the body reabsorbs more bone tissue while producing less to replace it, resulting in decreasing bone density. A person may not recognize they have osteoporosis until they suffer a fracture.
It reduces the density and thickness of your bones. People with osteoporosis are more prone to have fractured bones (bone fractures).
Your bones are normally dense and robust enough to bear your weight and absorb most types of shocks. As you age, your bones gradually lose density and the ability to regrow. If you have osteoporosis, your bones are much more frail and weaker.
Most people are unaware that they have osteoporosis until a bone fractures. Osteoporosis can cause any of your bones to break more easily, however the most typically damaged bones are:
- Hips (fractures)
- Wrists
- Spine fractures
The sooner a healthcare expert detects osteoporosis, the less likely you are to get a bone fracture. Ask your doctor about assessing your bone density, especially if you’re over 65, have had a bone fracture after the age of 50, or have a family history of osteoporosis.
Symptoms
Osteoporosis does not have the same symptoms as many other medical disorders. That’s why healthcare experts refer to it as a quiet sickness.
You will not feel or notice anything that indicates you may have osteoporosis. You will not experience a headache, fever, or stomachache, which are indicators that something is wrong with your body.
The most typical “symptom” is fracturing a bone unexpectedly, often after a minor fall or mishap that would not normally cause harm.
Even though osteoporosis does not create symptoms, you may notice a few changes in your body that indicate your bones are losing strength or density. These warning indicators of osteoporosis may include:
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. Osteoporosis can weaken your bones, leading to symptoms such as back discomfort from cracked or compressed bones in the spine.
• Loss of height with time.
• A stooped stance.
• The bone breaks more easily than predicted
Treatment goals include slowing or preventing osteoporosis, maintaining healthy bone mineral density and mass, preventing fractures, reducing pain, and maximizing daily function.
People who are at risk of osteoporosis and fractures can reach their goals through preventive lifestyle changes, supplements, and some drugs.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
A bone density test is used by a healthcare provider to diagnose osteoporosis.
A bone density test is an imaging examination that determines the strength of your bones. It employs X-rays to determine how much calcium and other minerals are present in your bones.
DEXA scans, DXA scans, or bone density scans are all terms used by healthcare providers to describe bone density testing. All of these are different names for the same test.
A bone density test employs low-level X-rays to determine the density and mineral content of your bones. It’s comparable to a standard X-ray. It is an outpatient treatment, so you will not have to stay in the hospital. You can leave as soon as you finish your test. This test has no needles or injections.
Checking for changes in bone density is the best technique to detect osteoporosis before it causes a fracture. If you have a family history of osteoporosis, are over the age of 50, or have osteopenia, your doctor may recommend that you have frequent bone density testing.
