Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin, weak and brittle.
Under normal circumstances, our bodies keep our bones strong and healthy by replacing old bone with new bone. When someone has osteoporosis, the body removes more bone than it replaces. Every year the risk for developing an osteoporotic fracture is greater than the risk for heart disease, stroke, or breast cancer. In fact, forty percent of all women over 50 will fracture from the effects of the disease. And even though you try to eat right, take calcium, and exercise - it may not be enough to protect you against bone loss and fracture.