Osteoporosis Reference Guide

Online Osteoporosis Reference Guide

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease in which a patient’s bones fragile, brittle and more likely to break. It is a silent disease in that it can progress without any symptoms until a fracture or break finally occurs, typically in the hip, spine or wrist, but any bone can be affected. Osteoporosis, however, can be treated and prevented.

A hip fracture, resulting from Osteoporosis, usually requires major surgery. In addition to impairing a patient’s ability to walk, a hip fracture can permanent disability or even death. Spinal fractures also have similar serious consequences, including loss of height, deformity and severe back pain.

While men also suffer from Osteoporosis, women are more likely than men to develop the disease.

There is no one, root cause of osteoporosis. Throughout our lives, our bodies are constantly building new and removing older bone mass. During our childhood, our bodies are creating more new bone than is being removed but by the age of 30, more bone is removed than is created. As this process begins and progresses, Osteoporosis may begin to develop.

Bone loss in men, as well as women who have not yet reached menopause, is minimal. However, after menopause, bone loss in women accelerates as estrogen levels decrease. Estrogen is a hormone that helps the body to continue working. After menopause, when the level decreases, some of this protection is lost.

Please take time to review our site and learn vital information about Osteoporosis.