The Hidden Risk of Osteoporosis After Menopause: Why an Osteoporosis assessment Bolton Matters

A wrist fracture after going shopping.

A hip injury after a seemingly harmless fall.

Back pain that becomes unbearable with time.

Post-menopause, there are many tales that begin in a similar way.

“I assumed it was just old age.”

A fracture is perceived to mark the start of the tale.

But it is not usually the case.

By the time a fracture occurs, chances are changes in bone strength have long since begun silently in the background. Bone loss after menopause takes place gradually and without causing any pain or symptoms; thus, osteoporosis is one of the biggest silent health risks women have to deal with. This is precisely why a menopausal bone health assessment  Bolton comes in handy. By understanding the quality of your bones, you will be able to take proactive steps to minimise the risks of fractures in the future.

Why Do Bones Get Weaker after Menopause?

One of the common questions women ask is “How come I didn’t realise that my bones were getting weaker?”

Here’s the answer.

Bone is a living tissue which regenerates itself all the time with the help of a natural process called bone remodelling. While young, your body successfully substitutes the old bone tissue with new tissue, thus maintaining its density and strength.

But post-menopausal decline in oestrogen levels causes some changes here – the rate of breakdown becomes higher than that of the rebuilding of bones, which results in their deterioration and eventually leads to osteoporosis and bone fractures even from minor injuries.

The crucial point you should remember is that bones start deteriorating quietly.

In other words, you could be feeling well while actually having fragile bones. Lifestyle habits, diet, exercise routine, medications, genetic predisposition, and different health conditions can also have an effect on the speed of your bone health changes after menopause.

The Importance of Bone assessment Done Early

There are many women who think that bone assessments are required only after they fracture a bone or get diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Actually, some of the most important bone assessments are done much earlier.

With a bone health assessment, a woman gets a starting point. She will be able to find out whether her bones react the way she expects from them according to her age, hormonal status and general condition.

Bone assessment is recommended for women who:

• Have suffered from menopause or premature menopause.
• Have relatives who had osteoporosis.
• Have been using steroids for a long time.
• Have suffered from bone fractures.
• Are sick with some diseases affecting their bones.

Bone assessments are not related to the way you feel if you are physically active and well-nourished. They provide you with information that can be used for decision-making.

What Does Modern Bone Screening Show?

Bone health is far more complex than bone density.

Modern screening can provide you with a wider picture of your bone health by evaluating not only bone mineral density but also bone quality.

Ravenstone Wellness offers advanced bone screening based on REMS (Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry), which is a radiation-free ultrasound imaging technique. Traditional methods only evaluate bone density, while REMS also provides a wider range of information due to bone microarchitecture evaluation in addition to density.

It becomes a more personalised evaluation of your bone health.

Along with the information obtained during the examination itself, your results will be evaluated in conjunction with your medical history, menopause stage, way of life, medication intake, and family background.

Interpreting Your Results is Equally Important

Getting a scan is just the start.

Interpreting what these results mean is equally important to the scan itself.

It is common for women to ask whether or not their bones are “normal” and whether or not they have osteopenia or osteoporosis. Although these labels are important, they never give the whole picture.

Your age, any prior broken bones, hormonal changes, physical activity, nutrition and medical history are all factors contributing to your bone health.

Two women may have similar bone density readings, but their risk of fractures can be very different due to different factors in each of their lives.

Moving on from the Scan

Bone health is more than a single assessment or conversation.

Some women will have their post-screening priority set on building strength through resistance training. Others might need to improve their nutrition and increase protein, calcium, and vitamin D intake. A consultation with a healthcare provider is advised if other risks are found.

Many times, the biggest gift for women is peace of mind.

With an understanding of your current bone health status, you won’t have to fear the unknown anymore.

Protect Your Bones Before a Break Occurs

Women don’t think about their bones until they break. 

A broken bone.

Back pain.

Losing height.

Being told you have osteoporosis.

Only at that point does the question arise, “Could I have done more?”

The truth is that strong bones are developed and sustained throughout a lifetime. Knowing your bone health following menopause will help you identify any risks and make choices based on this knowledge in order to promote healthy ageing.

At Ravenstone Wellness, a customised osteoporosis assessment Bolton enables you to learn about your bone health even before you have any symptoms. Regardless of whether the results will be reassuring or not, having this information will enable you to safeguard your bone health now and in the future.