In simple terms, osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones whereby they become brittle and easily fractured. Osteoporosis mostly affects post-menopausal Caucasian women although all women can be affected.
Osteoporosis is less common in men than in women.
There are conflicting theories about what causes osteoporosis. It is known that the chronic administration of certain drugs, such as corticosteroids like prednisone, may increase a person's risk of developing osteoporosis. If you already have osteoporosis it is unlikely that ingesting lots of calcium will reverse the disease. Paget's disease is similar to osteoporosis in that it is characterized by a weakening of the bones. Paget's disease is a metabolic condition that causes bone cells to become weaker and have more blood vessels than normal bone.