Which disease reduces bone density and causes the bones to become brittle?
Osteoporosis is a progressive skeletal disease in which bones become thin, weak, brittle, and prone to fracture. Osteoporosis literally means “porous bones.” Thinning bones are caused by loss of bone density. Calcium and other minerals contribute to the bone mineral density that helps strengthen and protect bones. Sometimes, bone loss occurs without any known cause. Other times, bone loss and thin bones run in families. In general, white, elderly women are the most likely to have bone loss. Brittle, fragile bones can be caused by anything that makes your body destroy too much bone, or keeps your body from making enough new bone. Osteoporosis, which means porous bone, is a disease in which the bones gradually become weak and brittle. The condition often results in broken bones, or fractures, especially of the hip, wrist, and spine, even from simple activities like lifting a chair or bending over. If you have any of the following diseases or conditions that can cause bone loss, talk to your doctor about what you can do to keep your bones healthy. In some cases, when you treat a health problem that causes bone loss, you can also improve your bone health. Osteoporosis is sometimes considered a silent disease because bone loss occurs without symptoms. In fact, many people do not know they have the disease until they break a bone. Osteoporosis can also cause a vertebra (one of the 33 bony segments that form the spine) to collapse. Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease. Osteoporosis increases the risk of breaking a bone. About half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra (bones of the spine) during their lifetime. Spine fractures are the most common. Diabetes. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis. While type 1 diabetes seems to cause the greatest amount of bone loss, people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of breaking bones. If you have bone loss but not enough to be osteoporosis, you may have a condition called osteopenia. As with osteoporosis, there are no physical symptoms. Osteopenia can progress to osteoporosis, but with changes in diet and exercise, you can slow the bone loss. Sometimes bone loss occurs without any known cause. Other times, bone loss and thin bones run in families. In general, white, elderly women are the most likely to have bone loss. Brittle, fragile bones can be caused by anything that makes your body destroy too much bone, or keeps your body from making enough bone. 1 The amount of calcium in your diet. 2  A diet low in calcium contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures. 3  Physical activity. 4  People who are physically inactive have a higher risk of osteoporosis than do their more-active counterparts. 5  Tobacco and alcohol use.
Osteoporosis disease