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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, 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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