During the early stages of osteoporosis, a deterioration of the bone tissue, people rarely feel pain or other symptoms that give them an indication a disease is progressing. The signs first develop as the bones begin to weaken and start to cause other problems. Women older than 65 and men older than 70, postmenopausal women, women who experience early menopause and people with a family history of osteoporosis are at increased risk for the disease, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). The elderly should not be the only ones to consider risk factors. Although it is a disease that usually strikes older people, it can develop at any age.
Stooped Posture
Stooped posture can be an early sign, the Mayo Clinic notes. However, it may indicate the disease has started and the bones are weakening. It rapidly develops into slumped shoulders. A hunched back may appear, as the bones in the back weaken. If not treated, this can lead to severe back pain because there may be a fracture in the area or a collapsed vertebra. Fractures from the spinal deformities may not even feel painful when they first happen. So other symptoms, such as the stooped posture, may be the only indication.
Height Loss
A loss of height may also be a sign of osteoporosis. This may be difficult to notice because many people slightly lose height as they age due to normal changes in the skeletal structure. But if it occurs with other symptoms, especially a slumping posture, it may indicate osteoporosis, and you should see a doctor.
Fractures
Fractures of bones, particularly the wrist, hip or vertebra, are signs that osteoporosis has developed. Since osteoporosis can often be a hidden disease, these fractures may occur following a simple, easy task. A fall or even a sneeze may cause a fracture, the NOF says. But sometimes the disease shows itself in more dramatic form, such as a fractured forearm or hip. If you suffer a fracture, your doctor can perform bone density tests to see if there are signs of osteoporosis developing.
Menopause
Postmenopausal women are at risk for osteoporosis, and can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in just five to seven years after menopause, according to the NOF. Menopause might be considered an early sign of osteoporosis for women. Bone density tests can determine if your bones have been weakening. Prevention treatments can begin before you suffer a fracture.
