When the body loses bone mass faster than it can restore its bone health, this bone disease is known as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes bone loss and affects the mineral density that makes the bones weak and more susceptible to fractures. An estimated 10 million people in the country suffer from osteoporosis and 80% of the cases reported are women.
Identifying the symptoms
Osteoporosis is a “silent” disease as one may suffer from the symptoms and be completely unaware of the condition. There are a few ways to watch out for these osteoporosis symptoms that cause pain and can affect a person’s mobility. Some can be identified in the early stages while severe symptoms are only evident in the advanced stages.
Symptoms in the early stages
A developing condition of osteoporosis can be identified when even the slightest of impact from a fall or injury causes the bones to break. One can watch out for these osteoporosis symptoms in the early stages.
Symptoms in later stages
One can watch out for these osteoporosis symptoms in the advanced stages as the bone deterioration increases in intensity.
Common diagnosis
The doctor will conduct a bone density test to test the strength of the bones. One of the common tests is the central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test done using a special type of X-ray that emits a small amount of radiation. A diagnosis becomes all the more necessary after the age of 65 as bone density gradually decreases with age. One must also account for risk factors that can trigger early osteoporosis and have tests done accordingly.
One can take immediate action to prevent further bone loss and maintain bone density with simple changes in their diet and lifestyle.