Signs And Symptoms Of Osteoporosis

Loss Of Height

Losing height as you age is normal, but several factors can accelerate the process. One of the first signs of osteoporosis is a slight loss of height due to how it affects the spine. Tiny fractures in the spinal vertebrae occur naturally over time and cause compression. These fractures are usually painless and undetected, but they can cause excessive bone loss and loss of inches in height. Poor posture is another condition that can affect height because of weakening muscles around the spine. This loss of muscle may eventually lead to loss of bone and height.

In addition, shrinkage occurs naturally in the discs between vertebrae as a result of aging. Studies of bone density scans of elderly women have demonstrated a link between height loss and the risk of osteoporosis in the hip. The research showed a two to three-inch height loss quadrupled the risk of osteoporosis of the hip. The risk was almost ten times greater in women with a loss of more than three inches. The average person loses about a half inch every ten years after age forty.

Get to know the next symptom of osteoporosis now.