10 Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor About Bone Loss

Bone loss, or osteoporosis, is a condition in which your bones lose density. As a result, they may become weak and brittle and more prone to fractures. Osteoporosis is a silent disease without any symptoms, leaving many undiagnosed until a fracture occurs.

There are multiple risk factors for bone density loss and, thus, the risk for osteoporosis. It is typically part of the normal aging process, however many other factors may play significant roles.

The risk of osteoporosis and bone density loss increases with age. It also has a genetic component. It is, therefore, important to understand the condition so you can protect against it.

If you feel that you are at risk of osteoporosis, below are some important questions you should ask.

1. What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that reduces both the quality and density of your bones. Bone maintenance involves a continual balancing process of resorption and redeposition of bone material. This process is carried out by osteoclasts, which are cells responsible for dissolving bone and osteoblasts to form new bone.

With osteoporosis, the balance is disrupted, and excessive bone resorption occurs. As a result, the bones become porous and brittle, increasing…