Dhaka, Oct. 21 -- Women should pay closer attention to their bone health as they approach menopause, when falling oestrogen levels can accelerate bone loss and increase the risk of fractures later in life.

Dr Jocelyn Wittstein, an orthopaedic surgeon at Duke Health in North Carolina, told NBC News that bone loss can accelerate around two years before menopause, which occurs at an average age of 51 in the US.

Women can lose around 10 percent of their bone density over the period surrounding menopause, she said.

Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because it usually causes no noticeable symptoms until a bone breaks. However, Wittstein identified four possible signs of weakened bones that women should not overlook.

Four Signs...