What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone disorder characterized by low bone mineral density, reduced bone strength, and increased susceptibility to fractures. It is associated with over 1.5 million bone fractures each year, the majority of which occur at the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis is characterized by a bone mineral density that is 2.5 standard deviations below the optimal bone density for a 30 year old healthy adult (T-score < -2.5). Approximately 10 million Americans over age 50 y have osteoporosis, of which approximately 80% are women. There are two primary strategies to reduce the risk of osteoporosis; i.e. maximize peak bone mass as a young adult and minimize bone loss during adulthood (especially in women after menopause). Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake and regular physical activity are important for both strategies.
According to the NOF, it is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and a consequent increase in fracture risk; bone density 2.5 or more standard deviations below the young normal mean (T-score above -1).
Osteoporosis (oss-tee-oh-puh-ro-sis) is a condition that means your bones are weak, and you’re more likely to break a bone. Since there are no symptoms, you might not know your bones are getting weaker until you break a bone! A broken bone can really affect a woman’s life. It can cause disability, pain, or loss of independence. It can make it harder to do daily activities without help, such as walking. This can make it hard to participate in social activities. It can also cause severe back pain and deformity.
researched and written by the ProjectAWARE group, 2001 Derived from Latin, osteoporosis literally means porous bone, which involves both the mineral (inorganic) and the non-mineral (organic matrix) components of bone. Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease in which bone tissue is normally mineralized, but the amount of bone is decreased and the structural integrity of trabecular bone is impaired, becoming more brittle. Cortical bone becomes more porous and thinner. While thinner bone itself is not necessarily more prone to breakage, bone that is both thinner and brittle is more prone to fracture.6, 34 Bone strength reflects the integration of two main features: bone density and bone quality. Bone density is expressed as grams of mineral per area or volume, and in any given individual is determined by peak bone mass and amount of bone loss. Bone quality refers to architecture, turnover, damage accumulation (e.g., microfractures) and mineralization. Osteoporosis is a significant risk
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine and wrist. Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain and deformity. While women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease are, men also suffer from osteoporosis.
