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Throughout childhood and as young adults, bones grow in strength and in size. Around the age of 30, bones reach their peak strength and then naturally become weaker with age. Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak to the point of breaking. This weakening may be due to aging or caused by other factors that combine with age. Symptoms of osteoporosis do not occur until a lot of bone strength is lost. The most visible symptoms may include loss of height along with the curvature of the upper back.
Osteoporosis also can result in a crippling and painful fracture, occurring most often in the hip, back, or wrist. Age is an important risk factor. Everyone, both men and women, loses bone strength as they grow older. Women have high risk for osteoporosis than men do as women often have smaller, thinner frames. Women also are affected by the change-of-life, known as menopause. After menopause, women produce less of a hormone called estrogen. Estrogen helps protect women against bone loss. Important risk factors for osteoporosis include:
- female
- Caucasian
- advanced age
- history of bone fracture
- a small, thin frame
- a family history of osteoporosis
- removal of the ovaries
- early menopause
- a low calcium diet
- lack of exercise
- eating disorders
- certain medicines (such as steroids or anticonvulsants)
- alcohol and tobacco use
How do I know if I have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease". There are rarely signs until a lot of bone has been lost. A medical test that measures the amount of bone is the best way to detect osteoporosis. A bone densitometer is one such test. The bone densitometer uses small amounts of x-ray to measure the amount of bone mineral. The amount of bone mineral relates directly to bone strength.
How does the densitometer work?
The bone densitometer uses small amounts of x-ray to produce images of the spine, hip, or even the whole body. The x-ray is composed of two energy levels which are absorbed differently by the bones in the body. The technical term for the method is "dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry", or DEXA. A computer is able to determine from these differences how much bone mineral is present. The spine and hip are measured because that is where osteoporotic fractures occur most.
What information will the test give my doctor?
A bone densitometry test is an aid to doctors in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The test compares your bone mineral density (BMD) to that of a "young adult" at peak bone strength. It also compares your results to people of your same age, called "age-matched." This information, along with other factors, helps doctors gauge your risk of osteoporotic fracture. The difference between your result and that of a "young adult" is given as a T-score. A panel of experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed categories that define the amount of bone loss.