What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become brittle and weak. It is common and can result in fractures or broken bones from even trivial trauma. It is estimated that a 50 year-old woman has a 40% chance of having an osteoporosis related fracture during her remaining lifetime. Osteoporosis is important because of the problems resulting from these fractures including disability, loss of independence, and even premature death. The most common fractures are those of the spine, hip, and wrist.

Osteoporosis is not an inevitable part of aging but is a disease that can be prevented and treated, provided it is detected early.

Who gets osteoporosis?

Anyone can get osteoporosis. There are 44 million Americans with significant bone loss.  Common risk factors are:

*Female

*Postmenopausal

*Family history of osteoporosis

*Small body frame

*Low calcium intake

*Vitamin D deficiency

*Smoking

*Advanced age

*Caucasian or Asian

*Rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, type 1 diabetes

*Medications including Prednisone, aromatase inhibitors commonly prescribed with breast cancer care,antiseizure medication, some diuretics, and others.