If you’re over 50, and you fall and break something, consider it a warning sign. A break at your age may be the first sign of weak bones from osteoporosis.
Each year, 1.5 million older Americans get a broken bone, or "fracture," because of the disease. Half of all women over 50, and a quarter of all men, will have an osteoporosis-related fracture sometime over the remainder of their lives.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?
People often aren’t aware that they have osteoporosis until they have a fracture. But there are occasionally symptoms of the disorder. They could include:
- Backache
- A gradual loss of height and an accompanying stooped posture
- Fractures of the spine, wrist, or hip
Call Your Doctor About Osteoporosis If:
- You develop a backache or sudden severe back pain, without obvious injury.
You break a bone after a relatively mild trauma.
They may recommend a bone density test to see if your injury could be due to osteoporosis.