Osteoporosis is a health condition that can really sneak up on you. Its early stages typically don’t cause any symptoms; it isn’t until a bone is broken or fractured that many people are diagnosed, and that can hurt.
“Osteoporosis is a disorder of bone quality and strength that increases the susceptibility for fractures,” explained Dr. Rozalina McCoy, an endocrinologist and associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
McCoy explained that osteoporosis is diagnosed through a DEXA scan, which is an X-ray that measures bone density. “A DEXA scan can tell us what someone’s fracture risk is, which is the main concern. Low bone density is the biggest indicator, but there’s an additional component of bone quality, too,” McCoy said.
According to scientific research, the risk of osteoporosis rises significantly with age, especially for women 50 and older, and ...
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