Osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent disease and this is for a reason. It is a disease of the bones and it is not possible to feel. Osteoporosis will cause the loss of bone mass and what is lost is not replaced.
It is estimated that in the United States, one out of every two women and one out of every four men who are over the age of fifty will break a bone because of osteoporosis. One of the most difficult things about osteoporosis is that most people do not even realize that they have the disease until they break one of their bones. It is at this time that it is often discovered.
However, there are some symptoms of osteoporosis that indicate that you are at risk. Here are 10 of the silent osteoporosis symptoms that may indicate that you are at risk to develop the disease.
1. You Are Suddenly Shorter
When a person develops osteoporosis it can cause the spine to collapse on itself. This may cause a person to lose an inch or more in height. If you notice that your jeans that used to fit you perfectly are not too long or your skirts are now going way below the knee, it could be a sign that you have shrunk and this could mean that you have developed osteoporosis. You should base the amount of height that you have lost by comparing it to how tall you were in your twenties.
In women, a loss of an inch and a half inches in height is cause to be concerned. Men losing more than two inches in height since their twenties should see their doctor. Losing height as you age is normal, but if you notice that you are suddenly shorter than you were, you definitely need to let your doctor know.
