Some elderly people may suffer a fracture from a small fall or while walking around the house. Often, such cases are attributed to natural aging processes, but doctors warn that this should not be ignored. If fractures occur even after minor damage, an examination is necessary.
The cause of this phenomenon may be osteoporosis. This disease is associated with weakened and brittle bones, which significantly increases the risk of their destruction even with minimal trauma. This occurs due to a decrease in bone density with age, as well as due to a lack of vitamin D and calcium in the diet of some people, which exacerbates the problem.
Although this problem is most common among the elderly, the risk of developing osteoporosis exists in other age groups as well.
Dr. Ashwini Machend, director of the Orthopedics Department at SK Birla Hospital in Delhi, notes that the greatest risk of the disease increases with age, as bone strength decreases with advancing years. This condition can affect both men and women. In women, bones can weaken rapidly after menopause due to a drop in estrogen hormone levels. Furthermore, if there is a family history of osteoporosis, the risk of developing the disease remains regardless of age.
Bone weakness is determined based on symptoms and the results of special tests. To assess the condition of the bones, a doctor prescribes a blood test and bone mineral density scan. A DEXA scanner is used for this purpose, which helps evaluate the amount of minerals and the overall strength of the bones.