Bones are living tissue, constantly being rebuilt. With osteoporosis, the rate of bone loss is greater than that of bone rebuilding, causing thin, porous bones that break easily. More than 28 million Americans have osteoporosis or are at high risk of developing it. One in every 2 women and 1 in every 8 men will suffer osteoporosis-related fractures some time in their life.
Osteoporosis causes pain, disability, and loss of independence.
However, it is treatable and the amount of bone loss can be prevented. Your bones develop in stages. From birth through adolescence, new bone is built faster than old bone is removed, so bones grow larger and denser. During adolescence, bones grow stronger at an even faster pace than before. Bone mass peaks between ages 20 and 25, then bone loss can outpace formation.