What Is It?
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration and weakening of bone tissue. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, typically occur in the hip, spine or wrist.

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat. 10 million Americans already have osteoporosis, and 18 million more have low bone mass, which puts them at increased risk for the disease. Eighty percent of osteoporosis patients are women.

With proper treatment, the effects of osteoporosis can be dramatically reduced.

Symptoms
Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse.

Collapsed vertebrae may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as stooped posture.

Risk Factors
Certain people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disease include:

• Being female
• Being Caucasian or Asian, although African Americans and Hispanic Americans are at significant risk as well
• Having a thin and/or small frame
• Advancing age
• Having a family history of osteoporosis
• Being post-menopausal, including early or surgically induced menopause. Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis.
• The abnormal absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea)
• Anorexia nervosa or bulimia
• Having a diet low in calcium
• Using certain medications, such as corticosteroids and anticonvulsants
• Low testosterone levels in men
• An inactive lifestyle
• Cigarette smoking
• Excessive use of alcohol

Diagnosis
Osteoporosis can also be diagnosed using specialized tests that measure bone density in various sites of the body. A bone density test can:

• Detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
• Predict your chances of fracturing bones in the future
• Determine your rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment if the test is conducted at intervals of a year or more

Educate Yourself
To learn more about osteoporosis, contact:

National Osteoporosis Foundation
202-223-2226
www.nof.org

NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
800-624-BONE (800-624-2663)
www.osteo.org

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
800-624-BONE (800-624-2663)
www.niams.nih.gov

Prevention
Although there is not yet a cure for it, osteoporosis is largely preventable. To help prevent the disease, you should:

• Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. The body needs calcium to grow and maintain healthy bones, and requires vitamin D to absorb calcium.
• Get regular weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, dancing, jogging, stair-climbing, playing racquet sports or hiking.
• Avoid smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. Catch the problem early through bone density testing, and arrest it with medications when appropriate.

Medications
Five medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis. Each of these medications slows or stops bone loss, increases bone density and reduces fracture risk. Estrogen replacement therapy or hormone replacement therapy (ERT/HRT), alendronate, raloxifene and risedronate may be prescribed to prevent osteoporosis. ERT/HRT, calcitonin, raloxifene, alendronate and risedronate are prescribed to treat osteoporosis.