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 density over many years but not know they have osteoporosis until a bone breaks.
Approximately 25 million Americans have osteoporosis. Eighty percent of those affected are women.
One out of two women and one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture. White and Asian women are most likely to get osteoporosis. Women who have a family history of osteoporosis, an early menopause, or small body frames are at greatest risk. Men have less risk of getting osteoporosis because they do not have the same kinds of hormone losses as women. Osteoporosis can strike at any age but the risk increases as you get older.
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 lack of exercise.
