Osteoporosis is also known as a silent disease. It is a chronic condition related to the gradual deterioration of bone tissue. It is a common disorder making bones brittle and weak, increasing their chance of breaking easily. Preventing any severe complications from osteoporosis requires treating it at an early stage. There are some early warning signs of osteoporosis however, often it is diagnosed due to a fracture of a bone.
5 Early warning signs of Osteoporosis:
Following are some of the early and later-stage warning signs of osteoporosis:
1. Low bone density:
A case where bone density is lower than average but not enough to be diagnosed as osteoporosis. Having low bone density is normal in some specific people and doesn’t signify that the person will have osteoporosis. Since one has lower bone density, it also means that they are more likely to have fractures or breaks compared to ones that don’t.
2. Aches or pain in the body:
Physical inactivity and vitamin D deficiency can lead to back or neck pain. Osteoporosis can also result in compression fractures, therefore, causing pinched nerves and leading to back or neck pain/aches. This pain radiates out of the spine and can range from minor/mild tenderness to severe pain.
3. Brittle bones – easy fractures:
Fractures usually come at a later stage of osteoporosis. These fractures can be the reason of minor movements and are one of the common symptoms of fragile or weaker bones. At times even a strong sneeze or cough can result in osteoporosis-related fractures.
4. Grip strength and fingernails are weaker:
Having a weaker grip or facing difficulty in turning doorknobs, getting up, etc. Tasks like these require strong bones. Power in hand grip is directly linked to bone density and muscles of your forearm, spine, and hip (according to studies). The risk of falls also increases due to weaker hand grip strength.
5. Poor posture:
Patients suffering from this bone disease may also form poor posture also known as “widow’s hump”. Poor posture also increases the risk of a compression fracture in the vertebrae, ultimately causing curvature of the spine, therefore, appearance. Proper posture and balance can be improved by weight-bearing activities.
Risk factors of Osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis can occur in both men and women, however, is more common among women. It is often a result of changes in hormone levels due to aging. Following are some of the risk factors of osteoporosis:
- Older age
- Smoking
- Menopause before age 45
- Low estrogen in women
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Low testosterone in men
Moreover, there are various medical conditions that may also increase the risk of this bone disease, including:
- History of breast cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Diabetes
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Dementia
- Hyperthyroidism
When to seek medical attention?
If you are also suffering from back pain or any other spine-related problem, head over to KKT Pakistan.
KKT Orthopedic Spine Centre Pakistan treats various spinal ailments without any medication or surgery. Book your appointment with KKT Orthopedic Consultants today.