By Dr Naval Bhatia

You eat reasonably well. You walk when you can. Nothing hurts. So why would you worry about your bones?

Here is the catch: Osteoporosis can weaken bones silently, without any obvious symptoms. You may feel perfectly healthy and continue your daily activities, yet your bones may gradually lose strength.

That is what makes this condition so easy to overlook.

“If something were wrong, surely I would feel it?”

Not necessarily.

Osteoporosis develops when bones lose strength and become more likely to break. Unlike a painful joint or a swollen ankle, it usually does not announce itself with an early warning sign.

You may continue going to work, doing household chores, climbing stairs and looking after your family without noticing anything unusual.

A minor fall can sometimes result in a fracture, while spinal fractures may occur with little or no obvious injury. This is why waiting for pain before paying attention to bone health is not a reliable strategy.

The everyday habits we rarely question

Many of us think about our bones only when we are older or when a doctor mentions calcium. But bone health deserves attention much earlier.

Ageing, menopause, certain medical conditions, long-term medication use and physical inactivity can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Men can develop it too. Taking calcium supplements occasionally is not a complete bone-health plan; appropriate nutrition, physical activity and assessment of individual risk factors are equally important.

If you have osteoporosis, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough; a doctor may recommend specific treatment to reduce the risk of fractures.

So, should everyone get a bone-density test?

Not automatically. The need for testing depends on your age, sex, medical history, risk factors and, in some cases, previous fractures.

A bone-density scan, commonly called a DEXA scan, may be recommended depending on age, medical history and risk factors. Persistent back pain, loss of height or changes in posture should also be medically evaluated.

Women after menopause, older adults, people with certain medical conditions and anyone who has suffered a fracture after a minor fall may need particular attention. The right time for assessment is something to discuss with your doctor rather than decide through guesswork.

Also, don’t ignore persistent back pain, a noticeable loss of height or a change in posture. These symptoms can have several causes, but they deserve medical evaluation.

This World Osteoporosis Day, don’t wait for a broken bone

You don’t need to wait for a fracture to take your bones seriously. Sometimes, the most important health problem is the one you cannot feel yet.

On World Osteoporosis Day, 20 October, the message is simple: Feeling healthy and having healthy bones are not always the same thing.

Eat a balanced diet, stay physically active and consult your doctor about your bone health. If testing or treatment is recommended, do not delay.

At Pacific OneHealth, New Delhi, Dr Naval Bhatia and the Institute of Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement provide specialist orthopaedic care, with assessment and treatment tailored to individual needs.

You don’t need to wait for a fracture to start taking your bones seriously. Sometimes, the most important health problem is the one you cannot feel yet.

(The author is Principal Director, Institute of Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement, Pacific OneHealth, New Delhi.)