Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Test
The Best Treatment for Osteoporosis is Prevention.
Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes the bones to deteriorate. Assessing your risk of osteoporosis can help delay or prevent future bone loss.
The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. Understanding the risks and symptoms of osteoporosis can help delay or prevent future bone loss.
Women of all ages should take an osteoporosis risk assessment test to help assess the risk of developing osteoporosis. Women who have gone through menopause are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis affects more women than men, men should also take steps to prevent osteoporosis.
Answering these questions can help assess the risk of developing osteoporosis.
The more "yes" answers, the higher the risk of osteoporosis.
Is the individual Female or Male?
80% of all Americans with osteoporosis are women.
Is the individual White or Asian?
Osteoporosis affects a larger number of Caucasians and Asians.
Does the individual weigh less than 127 pounds?
The risk for osteoporosis is higher for individuals who have a thin or small body frame because the bones are not as dense as those of someone who is heavier.
Is there a family history of osteoporosis?
Individuals with a family history of osteoporosis have a 60 to 80 percent chance to develop Osteoporosis.
Has the individual stopped menstruating?
Estrogen helps the bone remodeling system work more efficiently. Women who stop menstruating, lose estrogen and begin to lose bone mass. Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, making them more likely to develop osteoporosis.
Did the individual start menstruation at age 16 or older?
Women who start menstruation at a younger age are exposed to estrogen for longer periods in their lifetime. The longer women have adequate amounts of estrogen in their body, the less likely they will develop osteoporosis.
Does the individual have irregular periods?
Women who have irregular periods may also have fluctuating levels of estrogen. Estrogen is essential for our bone remodeling process to work effectively.
Has the individual ever broken a bone?
Usually people with osteoporosis show no symptoms until they fracture a bone.
Has the individual ever experienced a loss of height?
A loss of height can be a sign of vertebral compression fractures, which is a symptom of osteoporosis.
Has the individual never been pregnant?
Pregnant women are exposed to high levels of estrogen during their pregnancy. The more often you are exposed to estrogen throughout your life, the less likely you will develop osteoporosis.
Did the individual go through natural menopause before age 45?
The earlier estrogen levels decline, the more likely you will develop osteoporosis.
Were the individuals ovaries removed before age 40?
Estrogen is produced by the ovaries. Women who have had their ovaries removed are at risk for osteoporosis.
Does the individual exercise?
Bones need the stimulation of weight bearing exercises to keep them strong and healthy. Without exercise they lose density and become weak.
Does the individual drink more than 2 ounces of alcohol each day?
Alcohol stops the bone building osteoclasts from building new bone and stimulates the osteoblasts, increasing bone loss.
Does the individual smoke?
People who smoke absorb less calcium then they take in.
Has the individual dieted frequently?
If your body does not take in the appropriate foods, it is unable to absorb the nutrients required to build strong bones and teeth.
Does the individual include little or no foods with calcium in your diet?
Calcium and vitamin D is essential for strong bones. If your body is lacking calcium, it will steal calcium from the bones to use it elsewhere in the body.
Has the individual taken medication for a year or more that could accelerate bone loss?
- Corticosteroids
- Anticonvulsants
- Thyroid Medicine
- Gonadotropin Releasing Hormones
- Heparin
Has the individual ever had a medical condition that's known to increase one's risk of osteoporosis?
If you think you are at risk for osteoporosis, talk with your healthcare provider, exercise and eat a diet that is high in calcium.
