One out of two women and one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture. White and Asian women are most likely to get osteoporosis. Women who have a family history of osteoporosis, an early menopause, or who have small body frames are at greatest risk. Men have less risk of getting osteoporosis because they do not have the same kinds of hormone losses as women. Osteoporosis can strike at any age but the risk increases as you get older.Diagnosis
Losing height or breaking a bone may be the first sign of osteoporosis. Doctors use several different tests to find osteoporosis. The dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the most exact way to measure bone density in the wrist, hip, and lower spine. Other tests the doctor may use include single photon absorptiometry, dual energy absorptiometry, and quantitative computed tomography. Ask your doctor about these tests if you think you are at risk for osteoporosis.
