Early and Advanced Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Learning the symptoms of osteoporosis now is a significant step towards avoiding osteoporosis in the future. Osteoporosis is generally caused by the decrease of calcium intake coupled with the increase of phosphoric acid intake due to the excessive consumption of soda.
Unfortunately, more and more people are becoming susceptible to osteoporosis because of a shift towards a more sedentary lifestyle. When people spend hours behind a desk, they don’t build enough strength in their bones to be able to sustain stress. But knowing is half the battle—and just by being able to identify the risk factors and symptoms of osteoporosis you allow yourself to take the actions necessary to prevent osteoporosis from developing.
Osteoporosis Risk Factors
Just like with most other conditions, the symptoms of osteoporosis can be difficult to detect, which is why those who suffer from osteoporosis are unaware of it until the condition has progressed to its later stages. And because the symptoms are not easily detected, you should be even more vigilant in early identification. The following are some risk factors that you should watch out for before the onset of osteoporosis:
- If your diet includes very little calcium;
- If you don’t exercise for at least 30 minutes a day;
- If you have smoke and/or drink alcohol on a regular basis;
- If you have a thin bone frame; and
- If you have a family history of osteoporosis.
If the majority of what is mentioned above describes you or your lifestyle, then you have to be more cautious of what you do to prevent getting osteoporosis.
Early Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Once osteoporosis has started to develop in your bones, some noticeable symptoms are: when your muscles ache more than usual, when your joints stiffen or you experience regular pain in your joints, and if you feel pain in your bones the moment you wake up.
Advanced Symptoms of Osteoporosis
If osteoporosis has progressed without diagnosis and treatment, you will notice significant changes in your body. The following list shows the advanced symptoms of osteoporosis:
- Tenderness of the bones;
- Bone fractures without trauma;
- Gradual height loss;
- Lower back pain due to spinal column fractures;
- Neck pain due to spinal column fractures;
- Slouched posture; and
- Pain when weight lifting.
Once you experience these symptoms of osteoporosis, do not hesitate to seek medical assistance. Ask about what you need to do so to cultivate a healthier lifestyle before it’s too late. Do not wait until you experience the advanced symptoms of osteoporosis because being totally incapacitated can be very exasperating.