Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to become weak and fragile.

Symptoms

There are typically no signs in the early stages, but once bones have become weaker from osteoporosis, symptoms can include:

  • Back or neck pain
  • Loss of height over time
  • Stooped posture
  • A bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected, in places like the spine, wrist or hip.

Treatments

Because there is no cure for osteoporosis, the goal of treatment is to control pain and increase bone strength. There are a range of medicines available; most work by making the cells that break down bone less active, while allowing the cells that form new bone to remain active. This method increases bone strength over time and helps to reduce further bone loss.

This condition is a loss in bone density that results in fragile, porous bone. As a result, bones may break easily, even from a minor fall. Osteoporosis is most common among elderly women because of accelerated bone loss after menopause.

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