Our bones are constantly changing. Bones go through a constant breaking down and rebuilding of new bone in continuous remodeling cycles. Until a person reaches his or her mid-thirties, the bones are still developing. After mid-thirties, the process is usually fairly stable and hopefully equal in the amount lost and replaced. In women, frequently this balance of bone remodeling is dramatically affected by menopause.
Osteoporosis is an extremely subtle and silent disease.
It can progress undetected for decades with a fracture being the first sign of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis frequently leads to vertebral fractures, causing the spine to collapse. This results in the characteristic stoop posture often evident in older women. While osteoporosis cannot be cured, if it is detected early enough, the process can be slowed or potentially even prevented. Your family physician is a first step in establishing a strategy against osteoporosis.