What Osteoporosis Is
Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive disease that causes your bones to weaken and can lead to fractures. Hip and spine fractures have serious consequences, causing disability and severe pain. Hip fractures usually require major surgery.
Historically, osteoporosis was difficult to diagnose until a fracture occurred. Today, we are more aware of osteoporosis and how to prevent, detect and treat osteoporosis.
Facts About Osteoporosis
While women are four times more likely than men to suffer from osteoporosis, men may develop it as well.
Here are some additional facts about osteoporosis:
- Osteoporosis is highly preventable.
- Half of all women and one quarter of all men over the age of 50 will suffer an
osteoporosis-related fracture in her/his lifetime.
- The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 8 million women and 2 million men
in the U.S. have osteoporosis, and 34 million more people have low bone mass, increasing
their risk of developing osteoporosis.
- Osteoporosis affects people of all ethnic backgrounds; however, Caucasians and Asians have a higher risk.
- While there are several FDA approved medications for preventing and treating osteoporosis,
none can completely prevent fractures.
- Osteoporosis is the underlying cause of more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including
300,000 hip fractures, about 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, and more than
300,000 other fractures.