Symptoms and Risks factors

Three generations of women in a Korean village. The elderly women have 'kyphosis' (or hunched back) which is a sign of vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis. A family history of osteoporosis is an important risk factor for the disease.Nam dapibus tellus nec fermentum vehicula. Because bone loss is gradual and painless, there are usually no symptoms to indicate that a person is developing osteoporosis. This is one reason why osteoporosis is often referred to as the "silent epidemic".

Most often the first sign of osteoporosis is a fracture. In some cases, but not all, a stooped back ('dowager's hump') and loss in height may be the only visible signs that a person has osteoporosis and may have already suffered spinal fractures.

Since the disease does not have obvious symptoms, doctors may recommend diagnostic testing depending on a person's age and whether other fixed or modifiable risk factors can be identified.

Risk factors for osteoporosis fall into two main categories, modifiable and fixed (see below)

Although 'fixed' factors (which include age, gender, and family history) largely determine whether a person is at heightened risk of osteoporosis, 'modifiable' factors ('lifestyle') play a key role as well.

'Modifiable' factors, like good nutrition and exercise, help build bone during youth, and help to slow down bone loss in adults and the elderly. This means that everyone can take positive steps to strengthen their bones and reduce their risk of osteoporosis throughout life.

Because minerals contribute to bone's strength, low bone mineral density is one of the most important indicators that a person is at risk of a fracture. A person's BMD is determined by both 'fixed' and 'modifiable' factors. BMD significantly decreases with age, but if it falls below a given threshold (see diagnosis) this indicates osteoporosis. Measuring BMD by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is presently the only reliable diagnostic test for osteoporosis. People, especially the elderly, who have many modifiable or fixed risk factors, should consult with their doctor about having a BMD scan. The BMD results are an important basis from which to discuss potential changes to lifestyles and possible treatments.