Can you imagine waking up someday and you realize that your bones are not stiff as before? No falls, no dents–but silently your bones are wasting away behind your skin. That is osteopenia, the tell-no-tales phase of bone loss which usually happens upon women way earlier than is anticipated.
Although we always imagine that once we grow old, we will have weak bones, studies indicate that there are chances that you might have started losing bone by the time you are 30 years old, especially women. Surveys recorded on PubMed and Scopus show that, younger women than could be estimated are vulnerable to osteopenia that, under regular circumstance, is untraceable before it is too late.
How, therefore, do you detect weakening bones? What are the unobvious symptoms, and what can you do to pro
Osteopenia refers to a situation in which you have lower than normal bone mineral density (BMD) but to a point that it is not low enough to be identified as osteoporosis. The way I see it, it is a wake call: the bones start to leech calcium and strength, yet there is a time to make a change.
Although osteopenia does not necessarily result to fractured bones, it increases the chances of thinning of bones and breaks in case it is not managed.
Researchers at the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and PubMed Central depict that women stand a greater risk of contracting osteopenia and osteoporosis compared to men by a factor of four. Why?
This is unlike what many people think that bone mass building happens during late 20s or early 30s and later they undergo a slow process of losing. A recent study in Osteoporosis International notes that 10 percent of women in their 30s may already exhibit the signs of early bone loss.
It is a nonverbal process; it is painless and symptomless. Until a small fall, resulting in the fracture, comes.
Hush-Hush Symptoms of Osteopenia: Powerful Items to Pay Attention
Osteopenia does not shout, but these are some silent signals:
The early signs of bone loss in the spine include backache. It is not always a matter of posture.
A loss of half an inch may be as a result of compression of vertebrae because of thin vertebrae.
A Scopus-indexed study of 2021 also connected reduced grip strength and reduced bone density among women younger than 40.
Yes, both the nails and the bones require calcium and the collagen. Indication may include brittle nails.
Teeth are found in your jawbone. Jaw bone loss can lead to receding of gums.
A case of easy spraining or breaking of the bones through simple trauma is a sure way to get tested.
A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan or measurement of bone mineral density is the gold standard of measuring BMD. Women more than 30 and at risk (irregular periods, sedentary behaviour, family history) should not wait until menopause to take the test.
The good news for you is that osteopenia is reversible. When you take the right approach, it’s possible to prevent and even reverse bone loss. Here’s how:
More bone damage is often present by the time osteoporosis is diagnosed. Screening can be done as early as thirty or forty years of age to prevent fractures in the future, as well as to reduce overall healthcare costs and to optimize our long-term mobility and quality of life.
Bone health is critical not only for avoiding fractures in old age but for living an active and an independent life. Whether you are a millennial professional, a new mom, or near menopause, your ‘bone bank account’ needs to be tended to right now.
The earlier you invest, the larger your reserve will be when you need it most.
Osteopenia may be silent; it is not invisible if you know what to look for. The research is clear: women experience bone loss sooner than most people realize, and it could make all the difference between a healthy walk and a disruptive fracture years from now.
Even small changes will make a difference: consume a little bit more calcium, walk a little more. Your future self will appreciate the listening you did today.