As we grow older our bones may become weaker due to a low level of calcium, which is in charge of keeping our bones strong and healthy. This deficiency may be caused because of the normal process of aging or due to the intake of certain medication, this issue may be also aggravated if there ever was an injury or trauma.
You have probably heard of Osteoporosis or Osteopenia which are the two bone problems that can affect an elderly person. Osteopenia is the initial stage of bones getting thinner, this issue will inevitable lead to Osteoporosis which consist of very thin and porous bones. The former leads to a great risk for the elderly person of having a broken bone. This condition is commonly detected after an accident the requires medical advice.
Women are more likely than men to experience any of these conditions. After the menopause it is more common for patients to start experiencing symptoms. Due to menopause women stop producing estrogen, a hormone responsible for the maintenance of healthy and strong bones. For men this condition might show itself after they are 75 at this age it is more likely for them to develop it. Long periods of inactivity or lack of mobility constitute a risk factor.
A bow-down position or the decrease in height are warning signs and the reason why people look very different to what they looked like when younger. If an elderly person has an accident, i.e. a broken bone one should know that the recovery period is going to take a while due to the slow healing process. As soon as the patient has recovered from the fracture family members and the caregiver should help the patient to become active again, hiring a physical therapist is a good idea. The less physical activity a senior has after having a fracture the more probable it is to suffer accidents in the future, because the lack of activity softens and weakens the muscles and bones.