Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak and brittle. There are no symptoms or signs of osteoporosis and many people do not realize they have it until a bone breaks. However, if diagnosed early, the progression of osteoporosis can be slowed dramatically. As with many screening tests, osteoporosis screening can make a positive impact on your life for years to come.
Some bone weakness is a natural part of aging. Throughout your life you lose bone mass but your body naturally replaces it. As you get older, the replacement happens at a slower rate and in some cases, loss happens faster than it can be replaced.
An estimated 10 million Americans have osteoporosis; 80% are women.
Women generally have less bone mass than men and with the fairly sudden hormonal changes of menopause, bone mass loss increases. That is why more women than men have osteoporosis; however, anyone can have the disease. Regular physical exams can uncover some of the following common risk factors and help make sure you are screened when needed:
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The National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests the following for initial screening:
The most common osteoporosis screening test is a bone mineral density test. A bone mineral density test (BMD) can diagnose osteoporosis and determine your fracture risk. BMD is a painless and noninvasive test that measures the density (mass) of your bones/ Talk to your doctor about whether you are a candidate for a BMD test.
Regardless of your risk factors, there are some lifestyle changes you can make that reduce your risk of having osteoporosis and can reduce its impact if you do have it.
Finally, osteoporosis happens to the elderly, but the best time to reduce your risk is during your youth. Teach your children (or grandchildren) healthy habits. Maximizing bone mass early in life is the most crucial way to reduce the impact of bone loss related to aging. Childhood is also a critical time for the development of lifestyle habits conducive to maintaining good bone health throughout life.