An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know**Official websites use .gov**A
              **.gov** website belongs to an official government
              organization in the United States.
        **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**A
              **lock** (
              Locked padlock icon) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
 Top Utility Nav
        
        
        Asian-Language Resources
        
        Portal en español


Site search Mega Menu
  

        

        Home
                  Health Topics
                                      
    
  Health Topics

    Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
          
    Muscle and Bone Diseases
          
    Skin Diseases
          
    All Diseases and Conditions
          
    Publication Catalog
                  Grants & Funding
                                      
    
  Grants & Funding

    Current Funding Opportunities
          
    Supported Scientific Programs
          
    NIAMS-Supported Programs
          
    Applying for a Grant
          
    NIH Policies and Guidance
          
    Peer Review and Grants Administration Resources
          
    Types of Funding Mechanisms (Activity Codes)
                  Labs @ NIAMS
                                      
    
  Labs @ NIAMS

    NIAMS Labs and Core Facilities
          
    Research Faculty
          
    Research Areas
          
    NIAMS Scientific Advances
          
    Training and Career Development
                  Clinical Trials
                                      
    
  Clinical Trials
      
            For Principal Investigators

    Clinical Trial Policies, Guidelines, and Templates
          
    Conducting Clinical Trials
          
    Register with ClinicalTrials.gov

For Patients

What is a Clinical Trial?
	Clinical Trials at NIAMS
	Clinical Trials in the Spotlight
                  News & Events
                                      
    
  Newsroom

    All NIAMS News
          
    NIAMS Newsletters
          
    Meetings & Events
                  About NIAMS
                                      
    
  About NIAMS

    Director's Page
          
    NIAMS Organization
          
    Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024
          
    Staff Directory
          
    NIAMS Budget
          
    Partnerships
          
    Contact NIAMS
                  Community Outreach
                                      
    
  Community Outreach

    Bone Health
          
    Joint Health
          
    Muscle, Tendon, and Ligament Health
          
    Skin Health
          
    Health Information For Kids And Young Adults
          
    Health Information For Older Adults/Seniors
          
    Printable Materials for Community Events
          
    Resources in Other Languages
          
    Annual Health Observances
          
    Social Media Resources Breadcrumb
    Home
          Health Topics
          Osteoporosis


EnglishEspañol繁體中文한국어tiếng Việt





Osteoporosis Basics Basics
  In-Depth Read

FacebookEmailPrintFacebookEmail
            Download PDF
    
        Older woman talking to doctor

        Overview, Symptoms, & Causes

          Diagnosis, Treatment, & Steps to Take

          More InfoPoints To Remember About Osteoporosis
              Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle. This increases your risk of broken bones (fractures).Osteoporosis is a “silent” disease because you may not have symptoms. You may not even know you have the disease until you break a bone.You can take steps to help prevent osteoporosis and broken bones by doing weight-bearing exercises or lifting weights, eating a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, not drinking too much alcohol, not smoking, and taking your medications, if prescribed.Take steps to reduce your risk of falling, which can cause broken bones. Keep your floors free of clutter, wear shoes with nonslip soles, be careful on icy, wet, or polished surfaces, and use a cane or walker to keep you stable and provide support.

            What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle. This increases your risk of broken bones (fractures).

Osteoporosis is a “silent” disease because you may not have symptoms. You may not even know you have the disease until you break a bone. Breaks can occur in any bone but happen most often in:

Hip bones.
	Vertebrae in the spine.
	Wrist.You can take steps to help prevent osteoporosis and broken bones by:

Doing weight-bearing exercises, such as walking or dancing, and lifting weights.
	Not drinking too much alcohol.
	Quitting smoking, or not starting if you don’t smoke.
	Taking your medications, if prescribed.
	Eating a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
          
                              Who gets osteoporosis?Osteoporosis affects women and men of all races and ethnic groups. Osteoporosis can occur at any age, although you are at greater risk as you get older. For many women, the disease begins to develop a year or two before menopause.Osteoporosis is most common in non-Hispanic white women and Asian women.African American and Hispanic women have a lower risk of developing osteoporosis, but they are still at significant risk.Among men, osteoporosis is more common in non-Hispanic whites.Because women get osteoporosis more than men, many men think they won’t get the disease. But older men and women are at risk for the disease.
          
                    
                              What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?Osteoporosis is called a “silent” disease” because you typically have no symptoms until a bone breaks or one or more vertebrae in the spine collapse. Symptoms of broken vertebrae include severe back pain, loss of height, or a stooped or hunched posture.Bones affected by osteoporosis may break very easily or as the result of:Minor falls that would not normally cause a break in a healthy bone.Normal stresses such as bending, lifting, or even coughing.
          
                              What causes osteoporosis?Osteoporosis happens when new bone tissue is not made as fast as old bone tissue is lost. When this happens, too much bone is lost and the bones become weak.Certain factors may make you more at risk of developing the disease. There are some factors that you cannot change, and others that you may be able to change. Factors that may increase your risk for osteoporosis include:**Sex.** If you are a woman, you are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis. However, men are still at risk, especially after the age of 70.**Age.** As you age, your bones can get weaker.**Body size.** Slender, thin-boned women and men are at greater risk to develop osteoporosis.**Race.** White and Asian women are at highest risk. African American and Mexican American women have a lower risk.**Family history.** Your risk for osteoporosis and broken bones may increase if one of your parents has a history of osteoporosis or hip fracture.**Changes to hormones.**Low levels of certain hormones can increase your chances of developing osteoporosis.**Diet.** A diet low in calcium and vitamin D can increase your risk for osteoporosis and broken bones. Dieting too much or getting too little protein may also increase your risk for bone loss and osteoporosis.**Other medical conditions.**Some medical conditions can increase the risk of osteoporosis.**Medications.**Long-term use of certain medications may make you more likely to develop bone loss and osteoporosis.**Lifestyle.**A healthy lifestyle can be important for keeping bones strong. Lifestyle changes that may cause bone loss include:Not getting enough exercise and being inactive for long periods of time.Long-term heavy drinking of alcohol.Smoking.

                        Download PDF

      
            Learn About Research
              Find a Clinical Trial
          Read Journal Articles
          
                    Related Information
              Exercise for Your Bone Health
          Bone Mineral Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean
          Osteoporosis in Men
          Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What it Means to You
          
                    View/Download/Order Publications
              Download this topic as a PDF      
        

News Related to This Health Topic
    
      Discussing Bone, Muscle, Skin, & Autoimmune Diseases: Info for American Indians, Alaska Natives - audio
Spotlight on Research | May 25, 2022
    Long-running fractures study doubles as a bountiful women’s health data source
NIAMS-Related Article | Aug 17, 2020
    Fewer hip fractures may be associated with reductions in smoking, heavy drinking
Press Release | Jul 27, 2020
    NIH researchers discover gene for rare disease of excess bone tissue growth
Press Release | Mar 31, 2020


    FacebookEmailPrintFacebookEmail
        Last Reviewed: 
            December 2022
 About NIAMS
                    Clinical Trials
                    Grants & Funding
                    Health Topics
                    Labs @ NIAMS
              News Room
                    NIAMS Multimedia Library
                    Disclaimer
                    FOIA
                    Contact us
              Privacy Statement
                    Accessibility
                    HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
                    Social Media Moderation Policy
                    NIAMS Archives
        Subscribe to Our E-Newsletters
            Click the button to see different options to sign up for newsletters.
            Click Here to Subscribe
          Follow us on
  
  About NIH
                  Accessibility Support
            FOIA requests
                  No FEAR Act data
            Office of the Inspector General
                  Performance reports
            Privacy Policy Back to Top