Osteoporosis is a severe bone condition that’s considered to be one of the primary health-related threats to aging women. It’s characterized by a gradual and abnormal loss of bone material density. Generally, the condition affects women mostly, especially those who have already entered menopause. Additionally, osteoporosis can occur due to insufficient calcium intake. Read on to find out more about the symptoms of osteoporosis:

1. Fractures
Generally, a fracture is the most commonly noticeable symptom. Since the bones become extremely weak to support the body, they usually break due to a moderate strain or light bump. While this condition affects all bones in humans, the most vulnerable bones it attacks include the hips, spine, and wrist. Unfortunately, a spinal bone fracture consisting of collapse and crumbling of the vertebra is typically painful and can lead to a permanent deformed structure.

2. Height loss and stooped posture
Ordinarily, most individuals believe that height loss and stooped posture occurs as a result of aging. Generally, to some extent, it is true, they can mostly be symptoms of osteoporosis. Height loss primarily occurs due to spine compression fractures, which in turn, happens when the vertebrae weak bone tissues give away. In fact, if you sneeze or cough, these weak vertebrae tissues can collapse, resulting in an abrupt and intolerable pain. In the long run, these fractures will make you get a humpy back, stooped posture, or even make you lose as much as six inches of your height.

3. Brittle and weak fingernails
Weak fingernails can signal bone health. However, it would help if you consider other factors such as gardening, swimming, and other exercises that may affect your nails.

4. Receding gums
Due to the loss of bone in your jaws, your gums may start to recede. So, it would be wise to get in touch with a dentist to screen for any bone loss in your jaws.

5. Weak grip strength
In research carried out on postmenopausal women and their general mineral density, experts noted that weak grip strength is a result of limited bone mineral density. Moreover, a weak grip strength increases your risk for falls.

6. Chronic or acute back pain
The lower spine connects our bodies to the legs and pelvis. The pain purpose of the lower spine is to give you the ability to bend, turn, twist, or even lift. Furthermore, it provides support to your upper body weight as you stand. Therefore, this is the part that is continuously under substantial stress and is also most vulnerable to osteoporosis. If osteoporosis attacks this region, you will always experience unbearable and sharp pain.

Besides the bone density changes, osteoporosis does not typically cause any major symptoms. With this in mind, the best way to identify it during the early stages is to get help from a medic, mainly if there is a family member with a history of the condition. The fact that osteoporosis can worsen over the years without noticeable symptoms, it would be wise to be informed about osteoporosis risks and how to avert the condition. You need to be proactive and get crucial info regarding osteoporosis to avoid experiencing fractures later in your life.