How strong are your bones?

Assessing your risk and testing for bone loss are the keys to diagnosing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a potentially crippling disease characterized by low bone mass (density) and deterioration of bone tissue. The condition leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture – most often at the spine, wrist or hip.

Osteoporosis does not develop overnight. You can lose bone mass steadily for many years without experiencing any symptoms or signs of the disease until a bone fractures. For this reason, osteoporosis is often called “the silent thief” – literally stealing our bone mass without giving us any indication whatsoever. If osteoporosis is first diagnosed at the time a fracture occurs, it is already fairly advanced.

Early detection of bone loss, therefore, is critical in preventing osteoporotic fractures. This section is designed to help you assess your risk of osteoporosis so that you may take preventive action.