Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass, increased bone fragility and increased susceptibility to fractures. Osteoporosis is a silent disease that advances without warning until a fracture appears.

Peak bone strength (which is measured as bone mineral density or BMD) is reached between the ages of 25 and 30. Beyond age 35, a gradual decline in bone density occurs, usually at a rate of about 0.5% per year in men and estrogen rich women. For postmenopausal women not on estrogen, the average rate of bone loss accelerates to 2-5% per year for the first 5 years and then settles in at a rate of bone strength loss of about 1% per year. Put another way, women receiving no exogenous estrogen during the first 10 years after the start of menopause lose about 20% of their total body calcium. For those individuals who do not reach optimum levels of bone mineral density by their 30th birthday, the results of this age-related decline in calcium content is even more damaging.

Osteoporosis is often considered a condition that affects only women, but men are also subject to developing it. Beyond the age of 50 years, 1 in 2 white women and 1 in 8 men will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture. By age 85 years, 33% of white women have fractured a hip bone. Fractures in the hip in women result in death within 1 year for about 20% of victims, which is comparable to the lifetime risk of death due to breast cancer. When comparing age-adjusted data, the mortality rate in men who suffer a broken hip is 2 times greater than that seen in women. About 50% of hip fracture victims become severely incapacitated, with 30% needing long-term institutional care. Only a third of hip fracture victims regain their prefracture levels of independence.

The prognosis for our nation's bone health is guarded. Currently, osteoporosis affects about 6 million Americans and an estimated 28 million U.S. women are at risk for developing the disease. A recent study estimated the yearly incidences of osteoporotic hip fractures and spine fractures in female patients to be more than 250,000 and 500,000, respectively. At the current rates of osteoporotic prevalence, 1 out of every 2 white women in the U.S. will experience an osteoporotic fracture at some point in her lifetime.

The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable and treatable. Learning about risk factors and modifying your behavior to reduce these risks is the first step in management of osteoporosis. Today there are excellent medications available to alter the course of osteoporosis (and in some cases, to actually reverse its effects). Study the following information and other material available on this website. Applying this information will enhance your quality - and even possibly the quantity - of your life.

Modifiable Risk Factors for Osteoporotic Fractures

Nonmodifiable Risk Factors for Osteoporotic Fractures

Diseases & Conditions Associated with Increased Risk of Osteoporosis

Drugs Associated with an Increased Risk of Osteoporosis

Prevention of Osteoporatic Fractures

Medicines Used to Treat Osteoporosis

Dr. Bart's Recommendations for Optimum Calcium Consumption

Clacium-Rich Foods