Did you know that many older people with osteoporosis don’t know they have it until they have broken a bone? However, osteoporosis is a very common condition for seniors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects about 1 in 4 women aged 65 and older and 1 in 20 men aged 65 and older. Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones and makes them more susceptible to breaks. As people age, recovering from a broken bone becomes more difficult and can leave lasting effects such as chronic pain. That’s why it’s important to learn about osteoporosis and how to protect yourself against its effects.

Bone is living tissue. To keep bones strong, our body breaks down old bone and replaces it with new bone tissue. Sometime around age 30, bone mass stops increasing and the goal for bone health shifts to keeping as much bone as possible for as long as you can. As people enter their 40s and 50s, more bone may be broken down than is replaced. For example, osteoporosis can cause the bones in the spine to break and begin to collapse, so that some people with it get shorter and are not able to stand up straight.

According to the National Institute on Aging, osteoporosis is more common in women than men. At the time of menopause, women may lose bone quickly for several years. After that, the loss slows down but continues. In men, the loss of bone mass is slower. But, by age 65 or 70, men and women lose bone at the same rate.

Risk factors for osteoporosis

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, certain risk factors can cause bone loss and osteoporosis. Some of these things you cannot change and others you can. Risk factors for osteoporosis include:

Getting tested

In addition to knowing your risk for osteoporosis, getting your bone density tested is an important step in reducing your chances for a break. A bone mineral density test compares your bone density to the bones of an average healthy young adult. The test result, known as a T-score, tells you how strong your bones are, whether you have osteoporosis or low bone mass and your risk for having a fracture. A bone density test is like an x-ray or scan of your body. A bone density test doesn’t hurt, and you don’t need to do anything to prepare for it. It only takes about 15 minutes.

What can you do?

Whether you have osteoporosis or not, you can still slow down bone loss. If you have osteoporosis, knowing about and treating it early can keep you healthier and more active, lowering your chances of breaking a bone. Depending on the results of your bone density test, you may need to:

If you concerned about bone loss, consult your healthcare provider about possible testing and interventions.