Osteoporosis can develop when your body's production of new bone doesn't keep up with the rate at which your bone tissue is breaking down. Throughout your life, there is a constant breaking down and replacing of bone tissue, but when the regeneration of bone tissue slows down, your bones can become brittle and can fracture easily.

Women over the age of fifty have a significantly increased risk of developing osteoporosis compared with men, and it seems that changes in the body during menopause play a significant part in increasing the risk of developing osteoporosis. Oestrogen levels decrease rapidly during menopause, and this can accelerate the weakening of your bones as you age. Being sedentary, smoking and regularly drinking alcohol can also increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, which is why older women are encouraged to stay active and adopt a healthy lifestyle in a bid to counter some of their risk of developing this condition.

Symptoms Of Osteoporosis

It's common not to experience any symptoms when osteoporosis begins to develop, but over time as your bones weaken, you may notice back, hip or ankle pain, which can occur due to hairline fractures. You may also notice changes to your posture, which can cause you to stoop forward, and if you break a bone, you may be surprised at how easily the break occurred. Additionally, height loss is relatively common in those with significant bone weakening.

Treating Osteoporosis

A bone density scan, known as a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, is used to diagnose osteoporosis. It's painless and is carried out while you are fully clothed. Your doctor may recommend annual bone density scans once you reach menopause, particularly if you have any additional risk factors for developing osteoporosis.

There are a few treatment options for osteoporosis, and the aim is to slow down your rate of bone loss. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, such as modifying your diet and participating in weight-bearing exercise regularly. Synthetic oestrogen may be prescribed to counter the effects of menopause on bone regeneration. Additionally, there are a few types of medication that impede the functioning of the cells that break down old bone tissue, which can lead to an improvement in your bone density.

If you're concerned about developing osteoporosis as you age, discuss your risk with your doctor. They can support you in making lifestyle changes, refer you for a bone density scan and help you establish a plan for moving forward.

Contact a women's healthcare provider to learn more.