Osteoporosis: A Silent Disease

Osteoporosis is often called a “silent” disease because people typically have no symptoms. They often don’t know they have it until they break a bone in an unexpected way. Osteoporosis develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decrease. This can lead to weakened bones and an increased risk of a fracture. The hips, spine and wrist are most susceptible.

The chance of developing the disease increases as you get older, and women are at greater risk. Osteoporosis or its precursor, osteopenia, affects more than half of adults ages 50 and older in the United States. Osteopenia is a loss of bone density that is not as advanced as osteoporosis.

National Osteoporosis Awareness Month in May is an opportune time to discuss ways to promote good bone health, according to experts at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), which has an outpatient location, HSS Long Island, in Uniondale.

Bones As Living Tissue

We often think of our bones as if they were Legos that support our body, but they are much more than that. A bone is living tissue that is affected by our hormones and by the nutrients, vitamins and minerals we consume. Peak bone mass occurs at the time of puberty and into our 20s and early 30s. However, even as we age, our body constantly creates new bone.

It’s normal for women to start experiencing a decrease in bone density when they enter menopause, according to Dr. Jessica Starr, an endocrinologist at HSS. This happens due to hormonal changes and is generally a slow process. “Breaking a bone after falling while in a standing position could be a sign of osteoporosis,” she said. “Any fracture should prompt a discussion of bone health with one’s doctor.”

Osteoporosis is diagnosed with a bone density test, a quick and painless type of x-ray that provides information about bone see OSTEOPOROSIS on page 10B