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| 1. Definition of Osteoporosis / 2. Symptoms of Osteoporosis | |
What is Osteoporosis?Definition of OsteoporosisOsteoporosis (literally, "porous bones") is a disease that thins and weakens the normally strong, dense, mineral-rich material that bone is made of. As the diseased bones lose density, they also lose the solid strength they need to support the body's weight. So a person with osteoporosis is more likely to break, or fracture, a bone during a fall or accident: Most such fractures occur in the spine, hip, or wrist. In the U.S., more than 1.5 million bone fractures from osteoporosis occur every year, mostly in older women. | |
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