Wearing and degeneration of bones and cartilage are common with ageing. Bones that become weak and brittle due to ageing become more susceptible to fractures due to decreased bone density. This can happen due to various diseases and conditions associated with ageing, affecting the bones. Osteoporosis is a common disease affecting the bones in which your bones become weaker and lose density. If you have this disease, you're more likely to suffer from breaking your bones due to their fragility. Osteoporosis can be troublesome, but you can save yourself the trouble and pain of fractures with appropriate preventive measures and treatment.

When young, the body can generate new bones faster than breaking down older bones, thereby maintaining appropriate bone density. This ability of the body to regenerate bones faster goes down gradually as a person ages. Thus, more mass is lost than what is created. With osteoporosis, your hips, wrists, and spine are at the most risk of fractures. While age is certainly one of the main factors of developing osteoporosis, many other factors can put you at a greater risk of developing it. Therefore, knowing these risk factors can help you navigate changes in your lifestyle to delay or prevent the onset of osteoporosis.

Some risk factors of osteoporosis include:

• Age– Being older than 50 increases the risk of developing osteoporosis.
• Gender– Women are more prone to developing osteoporosis than men, especially postmenopausal women.
• Family history – Having a sibling or close relative with osteoporosis can increase your risk.
• Body framework size- People with a more petite body frame and shorter heights are at a higher risk of osteoporosis.
• Lifestyle habits– People who smoke, use tobacco products, or consume alcohol regularly are at a greater risk of osteoporosis, as well as those who don't get enough Vitamin D and those who don't exercise regularly.
• Health conditions– Many health conditions, such as endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, blood disorders, and autoimmune disorders affecting the bones, can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis
• Medications- Diuretics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, hormone therapy medications, anti-seizure medicines, and proton pump inhibitors are common risk factors for osteoporosis.

Several factors can contribute to this condition, making it a common condition observed worldwide. It is also called a silent disease as it creeps up slowly without showing any prominent symptoms in the beginning and yet causes quite a lot of damage. In fact, the most common symptom of osteoporosis is when you get a fractured bone.

Some signs and symptoms of osteoporosis include:

• Sudden back pain, which gets worse when standing up
• Widespread pain in back and joints
• Back pain that gets relieved when lying down
• Pain while twisting and bending
• Tiredness and stiffness
• Posture changes in the back and along the spine

Osteoporosis diagnosis may begin right after you visit a spine specialist with a fractured bone. The spine specialists at QI Spine Clinic ensure accurate diagnosis of a wide range of spine conditions and diseases to identify the root cause and immediately begin appropriate treatment. They may refer to X-rays and bone density scans to understand your condition and create relevant treatment plans curated specifically for your needs.

At QI Spine Clinic, our spine specialists encourage self-care and lifestyle management to improve your symptoms and problems. They focus on patient education to make you aware of your spine and bone health and help you plan ways to obtain long-lasting solutions. They also provide immediate pain relief and prevent further degeneration. You may be recommended specific medications and supplements along with guided physiotherapy and exercise to improve your condition.

At QI Spine Clinic, we are committed to providing comprehensive, patient-centric solutions for maintaining your spine and bone health through our innovative and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic treatment methods. Our spine specialists are highly skilled in managing different spinal issues and successfully deliver optimal treatment outcomes with utmost patient satisfaction.