Osteoporosis is a very common disease that makes the bones weak
and more likely to break easily. Ten million Americans have
osteoporosis and the disease causes more than 1.5 million
fractures annually, including 547,000 vertebral fractures,
297,000 hip fractures and 397,000 wrist fractures. It cannot be
cured, but osteoporosis can be detected by a painless test and
treated through lifestyle changes and medications. The human
bone looks something like a honeycomb, with the body constantly
depositing new bone and removing old bone. Bone mass usually
peaks around age 30, at which time the body starts removing more
old bone than forming new bone. A person is diagnosed with
osteoporosis when the spaces inside the honeycomb become larger
resulting in decreased bone density and strength. Osteoporosis
does not cause any symptoms, and those with the disease usually
do not know they have it until they experience a collapsed
vertebra or fracture. People at increased risk for developing
osteoporosis tend to be those who