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 Osteoporosis
is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If undetected and left untreated, osteoporosis can progress
painlessly until a bone breaks. These fractures typically occur in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, 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.
Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for 44 million Americans.
While women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, men also suffer from osteoporosis. More than two million
American men suffer from osteoporosis, and millions more are at risk. Each year 80,000 men have a hip fracture. One-third of these
men die within a year.
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