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Osteoporosis is called the silent disease because
you cannot feel your bones becoming weaker. It begins early in life
and progresses slowly over time with no symptoms until you experience
a fracture or break. It is a metabolic bone disease that results
in deterioration of bone tissue which is referred to as low bone
density or low bone mass. One of the first outward signs of osteoporosis
is a loss of inches in height. It also can be seen outwardly in
a rounding of the spine in the upper back called kyphosis.
Those at risk for osteoporosis are older Caucasian, Japanese and
Chinese women, women who weigh less than 127 pounds, smokers and
alcoholics. Moreover, certain medications and diseases can increase
your risk of osteoporosis: women who take tamoxifen for breast cancer;
people who take glucocorticoids (also called steroids or corticosteroids);
people on anti-seizure medications; people who take excessive thyroid
medication; and people who suffer from celiac disease, rheumatoid
arthritis, asthma, lupus and diseases of the lungs, kidney and liver.
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