Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break even with minor falls or stresses like bending or coughing. It results from an imbalance between bone loss and bone formation, and it commonly affects people over the age of 50, especially postmenopausal women.​

What Is Osteoporosis?

Causes and Risk Factors

Osteoporosis develops when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the loss of old bone.​

• Common risk factors include aging, menopause in women, family history, small body frame, low calcium or vitamin D intake, certain medications, smoking, and excessive alcohol use.​

• Race and gender also play a role: women, especially those who are white or of Asian descent and postmenopausal, have higher risk.​

Symptoms and Complications

Early stages usually have no symptoms, but when bones become very weak you may experience:​

• Back pain (from fractured or collapsed vertebrae)

• Loss of height over time

• Stooped posture

• Bones breaking much more easily than expected

Fractures most often occur in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis can cause permanent pain, reduce mobility, and even lead to increased mortality after hip fractures, especially in seniors.​

Diagnosis

Osteoporosis is usually diagnosed via bone density scans—especially recommended for women over 65 or postmenopausal women with risk factors. Physicians may also assess medical history, physical signs, and fracture risk.​

Treatment and Prevention

Treating osteoporosis aims to slow bone loss and prevent fractures.​

• Healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D

• Regular weight-bearing and strength-training exercise

• Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol

• Medicines that slow bone loss or help rebuild bone

Preventing falls and making lifestyle changes are also strongly recommended.​

Who Is Affected?

Osteoporosis affects over 54 million people in the U.S. and hundreds of millions worldwide, with risk increasing sharply after age 50. About one in two women and one in four men over 50 are expected to have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.​

Illustrative Information

• Osteoporosis is marked by porous bone structure, visible in medical illustrations contrasting healthy and osteoporotic bones.

• The disease often leads to noticeably curved spines and stooped posture in elderly individuals.

• Both men and women lose bone mass with age, but women experience a sharper decline after menopause.

Osteoporosis is a serious but largely preventable condition that demands attention to bone health, lifestyle, and regular medical screening, especially for those at higher risk.​

Osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures explained by Dr. Betsy Grunch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmNT0RH-z8A&t=3s