It's good to hear that you're paying such close attention to your health. Keep up the good work. It's the most common metabolic bone disease in North America, and the cause of hundreds of thousands of fractures a year. The disease usually becomes evident in older age, and affects women more than men. As this disease progresses, an increase in fractures is seen especially in the backbone, hipbone and thighbone.
Postmenopausal women are most at risk for osteoporosis because of decreasing levels of estrogen.
But there are many other risk factors as well. These include hormonal imbalance due to other causes, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco and excessive alcohol use, tumors, genetic disorders, and some vitamin and mineral deficiencies. In osteoporosis, the rate of bone formation is often normal, but the rate of bone resorption is increased, resulting in overall bone loss. Alendronate can reverse the progression of osteoporosis as well as reduce fracture risk. It can be taken alone or in combination with hormone replacement therapy.