Bones become so weak and brittle that even movements like bending to pick up a newspaper, lifting or coughing can cause a fracture of the bones. The strength of your bones relates to mass or density of your bones. And that results in part from calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in bone. In osteoporosis bone strength is decreased because your bones contain less mineral and lose internal supporting structure. Your bones are continually changing.
Old bone is broken down and new bone is made in a process called bone turnover.
A full cycle of bone remodeling takes about 2 to 3 months. Usually fractures are the first sign of trouble. Osteoporotic fractures usually occur in the spine or hips, bones that directly support your weight. Because osteoporosis may be prevented or slowed if detected early its important to find out if you have the disease or are likely to develop it. Fractures from osteoporosis are about twice as common in women as in men.