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What is Osteoporosis?Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by the loss of bone mass which leads to reduced bone strength, poor bone quality, and an increased risk of fractures. While principally manifested by fractures in the hip, spine, and wrist, all bones are subject to the ravages of osteoporosis. These fractures total more than 1.3 million a year.How does osteoporosis affect us?Because osteoporosis causes bones to become brittle, we become more susceptible to fractures from falls or even spontaneous mild stresses of daily activities. Osteoporosis often develops quietly over years and may be unnoticed until a fracture occurs. Who is at risk?Osteoporosis occurs most commonly in women, especially women over the age of 60. A certain amount of bone loss is normal for both women and men as we grow older. Bones are living tissues that are constantly being broken down and reformed. This process, called remodeling, continues throughout life. In the early years, through adolescence and possibly up to the 30's, more bone is usually built up than broken down. After 35, however, more bone is broken down than is formed, causing loss of bone mass. Women have approximately ten to 25 percent less total bone mass at maturity than men. After menopause, bone loss accelerates so quickly that an average woman in her 70's has lost half her bone mass while a man the same age suffers only about 14 percent loss. What causes osteoporosis?Although it is not fully understood why osteoporosis occurs, multiple factors can contribute to the disease, including:
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