Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they break easily–especially bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis is called the “silent disease” because you may not notice any symptoms.
People can lose bone over many years but not know they have osteoporosis until a bone breaks. About 25 million Americans have osteoporosis–80 percent are women. Experts do not fully understand all the causes of osteoporosis. They do know that when women go through
menopause, levels of the female hormone estrogen drop. Lower hormone levels can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis. Other causes of bone loss and osteoporosis include a diet too low in calcium and not getting enough exercise.
Osteoporosis is preventable. A diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing exercise are the best ways to prevent osteoporosis. Treatment of osteoporosis aims to stop bone loss and prevent falls. Falls often cause broken bones that can mean
a trip to the hospital or a long-term disabling condition. Osteoporosis is the cause of 1.5 million fractures each year, including more than 300,000 hip fractures.