What is Osteoporosis?
If you know that “osteo” refers to bone, you get the idea that osteoporosis could mean
“porous bones." More importantly, osteoporosis is a common bone ailment that results in weak bones that break easily. In fact, the first sign of osteoporosis is frequently a broken bone (bone fracture).
Most common sites of fracture:
- Hip (top of the femur or thigh bone)
- Spine (vertebrae)
- Wrist
- Pelvis
- Upper Arm
How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
Although a loss of bone strength is the major concern in osteoporosis, it is not possible to directly measure bone strength in a live person. Consequently, physicians and researchers use various types of bone scanning techniques to evaluate the quality of a person’s bones and their risk of breaking a bone. The results of these bone scans are used by physicians to establish a diagnosis and make recommendations for medications, diet, supplements, and exercise.
