Information About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis or bone loss that can lead to fractures affects 44 million Americans. It is most common in postmenopausal women, but may also occur in men and sometimes in children. There are 1.5 million osteoporotic fractures in the US every year. These fractures may cause loss of independence, chronic pain, disability, and even death. Osteoporosis is not an inevitable part of aging. It is a preventable and curable disease.

Most people with osteoporosis are undiagnosed and untreated. Many of those who are diagnosed do not receive optimal treatment. The key to managing this debilitating disease is identification of those at risk, measuring bone density, and treating appropriately. Although great strides have been made in developing new treatments for osteoporosis, the entire field of osteoporosis treatment is still in its infancy. Exciting new research has the potential of offering tremendous advancements in our ability to manage this disease.