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What is the Definition of Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis means porous bones or bones with holes in them.[1] This causes them to be so weak that small movements can cause them to break. Simple things like lifting a chair or bending over can cause a break. Osteoporosis is caused by low levels of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in bones. While most people think of the condition as affecting women, men can have osteoporosis too, although only about 20% of cases involve men.[2] In the United States, there are 1.5 million fractures each year due to osteoporosis.[2] About 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. It is the leading cause of hip fractures. It also frequently causes spine and wrist fractures.[3]
What are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is sometimes called a silent disease because there are no symptoms until you have a broken bone.[3] The most common fractures involve hip, spine and wrist fractures. Compression fractures of the vertebrae of the spine can be very painful.[4] In addition, it can cause loss of height and a hunchback (known as kyphosis).
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