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Perhaps you know someone who seems to suffer bone fractures more often than others. She may have lost some of her height, became hunched or developed a curved spine, and has trouble getting around. All of these can be signs of a condition called osteoporosis.
Throughout life, bone constantly renews itself, replacing old bone with new. With osteoporosis, the body starts losing bone at a rate faster than it can replace it. As a result, bones become weaker, more brittle, and more likely to break. This condition occurs most commonly in women who are past menopause.
Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease," because you can't always see or feel it. You may actually feel fine, yet still have osteoporosis. For many women, the first symptom is a broken bone. That's why a bone density test is important. This easy, quick, and painless test helps your doctor determine if you have, or are at risk for, osteoporosis, and whether you need to take action to help stop bone loss and prevent fractures.
