Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition of thinning and weakening of bone, usually as the individual gets older, that leads to increased risk of fracture (breaking) because the bones are more fragile. Can affect any bone; when present usually affects all bones. The occurrence of a fracture, most commonly of the wrist, may be the first sign that osteoporosis is present.
Symptoms
- Bones are more likely to break or fracture; any bone can be affected
- Most serious, common break, usually caused by a fall, is of the neck of the thigh bone (femur), causing pain, inability to put weight on the affected leg, and foot being turned outwards
- Individual may become shorter over time as the spine compacts due to fracture of vertebrae in the spine (kyphosis)
- Bone pain or chronic back pain
- Fracture of bone associated with higher risk of having other fractures at other sites
Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Deficiency in Vitamin D (Calciferol) can lead to rickets on children or osteomalacia on adults. Deformity of, and problems with, bones, caused by the lack of Vitamin D (Calciferol) in the diet or lack of sun exposure. Vitamin D is found in foods such as sardines, herring, cod liver oil, butter, milk and margarine and is produced in the skin when it is expose to ultraviolet in sunlight.
Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium from the diet.
Signs and Symptoms in children (Rickets)
- Bone deformity or problems, including the skull, joints suck as the ankle and wrist, and the cartilage in the chest.
- Misshapen bones in the leg, making the individual bowlegged.
- May be curvature of the spine and back pain
- Hunched or stooped posture