Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone becomes extremely fragile. Bone is a complex living tissue that can be weakened by poor diet and lack of exercise.
As we age, bones begin to break down faster than new bone can be formed. Osteoporosis removes minerals from bones until they become so weak and brittle that they fracture very easily. Actions such as bending to pick up a newspaper, lifting a vacuum, or even coughing can cause a fracture. Some fractures, such as hip fractures, may require hospitalisation or major surgery, and may result in disability or even death.
These pictures show the difference between healthy bone, and bone with low density and mass. The dark areas in the picture on the right show where the bone has been weakened by osteoporosis.
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Osteoporosis can affect people of all ages |
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Approximately 80% of people with osteoporosis are women |
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An estimated 34 million people have low bone mass, putting them at risk for osteoporosis |
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Warning signs
Osteoporosis is painless in its early stages and often there are no symptoms or signs until late in the disease progression. However, some people experience these signs of osteoporosis:
- Bone fractures, especially of the hip, spine, or wrist
- Change in posture
- Sudden back pain
- Loss of height
Risk factors
The following factors are indicative of your risk for osteoporosis:
- Being a postmenopausal woman
- Race
- Thin frame
- Diet low in calcium
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
- Heavy alcohol consumption
Diagnosis and screening of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis can be caught early with an osteoporosis risk analysis. Early detection via screening allows doctors to take action, if necessary, with appropriate treatment. If you have any questions about Life Line Screening, please don't hesitate to contact us. Life Line Screening offers bone mineral density screening of your heel bone—an effective and accurate way to screen for osteoporosis risk.
Interested in learning more about osteoporosis and the screening of osteoporosis? Read our FAQs.
