Osteoporosis

What is it?

Points To Remember About Osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become weak and are more likely to break.
• Osteoporosis is called the "silent disease" because bone loss does not have any symptoms until a bone breaks.
• Certain risk factors can cause bone loss and osteoporosis.
• Doctors use a bone mineral density test to check your bone health.
• Osteoporosis is treated with diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and medicines.
• To help keep bones strong and slow down bone loss, eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D; exercise; and keep a healthy lifestyle.
• Take steps to prevent falls both inside and outside.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which your bones become weak and are more likely to break. If you have osteoporosis you are more likely to break bones in your hip, spine, and wrist.

Our bones are alive. Every day, our body breaks down old bone and puts new bone in its place. As we get older, our bones break down more bone than they put back. It is normal to lose some bone as we age. But, if we do not take steps to keep our bones healthy, we can lose too much bone and get osteoporosis.