What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease affecting the bones. Bones become very brittle and break easily. Osteoporosis occurs when bones do not contain enough calcium and minerals or the body does not make enough. This causes bones to look very porous and contain large holes. The large holes indicate bone density is low and there is simply not enough mass. Bones with less density break more easily. Osteoporosis is more common in women than in men and is more prevalent in adults over the age of fifty.

Osteoporosis and Arthritis

Many people believe osteoporosis and arthritis have similar symptoms. Most people do not realize they are suffering from osteoporosis until it is in advanced stages. A common misconception about osteoporosis is there is swelling and pain in the joints. This is a common symptom of arthritis, not osteoporosis. Pain and disfigurement in the bones and joints typically happens in the later stages of osteoporosis. It is not an early indicator of the disease. Bone density tests evaluate the amount of bone mass present. Having regular bone density tests can lead to earlier detection of osteoporosis.

What Are Osteoporosis Symptoms?

Osteoporosis starts as a silent disease. In the beginning, there may be bone loss, but no pain or other physical symptoms. A person could have continuing bone loss over several years before receiving a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Over time, the condition becomes more serious. Loss in height is a major indicator of osteoporosis. As backbones deteriorate, they can cause vertebrae to collapse or fracture causing a compression fracture. This makes a person shorter in height over time. The collapsing or fracturing of vertebrae can also cause back pain or stooping in posture. A humped back is another common symptom of later-stage osteoporosis. Loss in bone density increases the chances of bone breakage. Simple tasks like house cleaning, gardening or a minor fall can cause major breaks in weakened bones. Many times a diagnosis of osteoporosis comes after a major bone break. One of the most common breaks or fractures is the hip fracture. This is usually the result of a fall. Hip fractures make mobility difficult and usually require surgery. Another common break due to a fall is a break in the wrist or forearm. Breaks in these areas can also affect mobility. Osteoporosis symptoms may be difficult to detect at first. Many may also go unnoticed. Without regular bone density tests, it is challenging to diagnosis osteoporosis in the early stages.

Osteoporosis Risk Factors and Prevention

Women are at a higher risk for osteoporosis than men are. The risk factors increase after women go through menopause because estrogen levels decrease. Having a family history of osteoporosis increases the risks. Excessive dieting can also play a major role if there is not enough calcium consumed. A sedentary lifestyle can be a risk factor as well. Bones are healthiest when the body is on an exercise regimen of light weight lifting, jogging or walking. Smoking and consuming alcohol also increase the risk. Smokers lose bone density quickly and consuming alcohol inhibits the absorption of calcium. Knowing the risk factors and symptoms can greatly reduce one’s chances of getting osteoporosis.