Facts About Osteoporosis

Like your skin, your bones are living, growing tissue. Your bones provide structural support for muscles, protect vital organs, and store the calcium essential for bone density and strength.

Bone Turn-Over Rate
Old bone is routinely "resorbed" or carried away by your body as part of its normal function, while new bone is formed in your skeleton. The relative rate of resorption and new bone formation changes over time. As you go through your childhood and teen years, new bone is added faster than old bone is resorbed, resulting in overall bone growth. Most women acquire a majority of their bone mass by age 18, which peaks by age 30. This is when your bones are most dense and strong.

After age 30 the process very slowly reverses, meaning that more bone is carried away than is formed. This results in overall bone loss. Such bone loss can continue over the years as you age. When bone resorption occurs too quickly or new bone grows too slowly, a person may reach the point of developing osteoporosis. The disease is more likely to develop if you did not acquire the best bone mass during your bone-building years.

Stages of Osteoporosis
Since the hormone estrogen helps protect against bone loss, less estrogen in your body results in more bone loss. That's why the years after menopause — when a woman's ovaries stop producing estrogen — is the time of life when bone loss is most rapid. In fact, women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the 5 to 7 years following menopause.

When you reach a point where you have significantly less bone than normal, you have a condition called osteopenia. With further bone loss, your bones may no longer have a normal structure. At this point you would have osteoporosis. As bone mass is increasingly lost, bones become thinner and more fragile, which makes fractures more likely.

When you hear the words "fracture due to osteoporosis," you may think of breaking a major bone, like a hip. The fact is, fractures can occur in almost any bone. Once you have one, your chances of having more fractures greatly increase. Left untreated, these fractures can lead to back pain, loss of height and mobility, and other health problems.

The Truth About Osteoporosis
Many myths and misconceptions surround osteoporosis. Learning the facts can help you take control and effectively prevent and treat this potentially life-threatening disease.

• "Osteoporosis is a disease, and not a 'natural' consequence of aging."
  • True. Osteoporosis is a disease, and one that can be prevented, diagnosed, and treated.
• "Osteoporosis is a serious disease."
  • True. As osteoporosis progresses, your bones may become so weak that they are easy to break.
• "Osteoporosis is a concern even before menopause."
  • True. Although osteoporosis is usually diagnosed after a woman passes menopause, you are never too young to take steps now to help prevent this disease. Learn how to prevent osteoporosis.
• "I feel healthy, but I could still be at risk."
  • True. Osteoporosis is often known as a "silent disease" because it may not have symptoms until a bone actually breaks. Find out how to get tested for osteoporosis.
• "Even if I have osteoporosis, there's always something I can do."
  • True. After osteoporosis is diagnosed, medications can be used to delay further bone loss and breakdown. Learn how you can help reduce the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis.