• Disease Information
  • Osteoporosis is a disease of bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered.
  • Other common terms: none


• Statistics
  • Approximately one in two women and one in four men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis related fracture in their remaining lifetime. (Source: Fast Facts on Osteoporosis. National Osteoporosis Foundation)
  • 50% of people who fracture a hip will be unable to walk without assistance. About 1 in 5 hip fracture patients over age 50 die in the year following their fracture as a result of associated medical complications. (Source: Handout on Health: Osteoporosis. National Institutes of Health)
  • If you are elderly, a broken hip makes you up to 4 times more likely to die within 3 months. (Source: Bone Health and Osteoporosis. The Surgeon General’s Report)
  • More than two million American men suffer from osteoporosis, and millions more are at risk. (Source: Handout on Health: Osteoporosis. National Institutes of Health)
  • One in 5 people with a hip fracture end up in a nursing home within a year. (Source: Bone Health and Osteoporosis. The Surgeon General’s Report)
  • Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including 300,000 hip fractures, approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, and more than 300,000 fractures at other sites. (Source: Osteoporosis. National Institutes of Health)
  • Additional Osteoporosis Statistics
  • Full Medical Bibliography on Bone Mineral Density Test for Osteoporosis


• Warning Signs
  • Osteoporosis is a “silent” disease that rarely displays symptoms until the disease has significantly progressed. At that point you may develop the following symptoms:
    • Back Pain
    • Loss of height
    • Change in posture including a curved backbone
    • Fractures as a result of a minor injury. Specifically those of the hip, spine or wrist


• Osteoporosis Risk Factors
• Controllable Risk Factors:
  • Smoking
  • Eat a heart healthy diet
  • Lack of exercise and physical activity
  • Limit alcohol
• Uncontrollable Risk Factors:
  • Age: risk of osteoporosis increases with age
  • Gender: more women have osteoporosis
  • Body Structure: small framed or thin people are more likely to have osteoporosis
  • Family history: risk of osteoporosis is greater if a parent or sibling has had osteoporosis
  • Race: Caucasians and Asians have a greater risk

For more information on osteoporosis, or to request a press kit, please contact our Director of Communications by phone at 1-800-555-9190 or by email at PR@HealthYes.com.