You may even have heard that not much can be done for people who have already developed osteoporosis. Recent research suggests just the opposite, however, and those who already have osteoporosis are most likely to benefit from aggressive treatment. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 18 million have low bone mass, which puts them at high risk for developing osteoporosis. Women are four times more likely to develop the disease than men, and it tends to occur in older individuals, especially smokers and those who haven't led very active lifestyles. If you want to reach out about your osteoporosis or if you just have questions, check out WebMD's Osteoporosis board.
Osteoporosis can affect anyone, however.
Wash. As a still-young male who's led an active lifestyle, bone health was the last thing on his mind, even though his mother has osteoporosis and the disease does run in families. Porous bones are fragile bones, so people with osteoporosis are at a much higher risk of fracturing a bone, especially the wrist, hip, or spine. Such fractures can lead to permanent pain, disability, or even death, especially in the elderly, so identifying and treating osteoporosis is extremely important. Expert Nelson Watts, MD, says osteoporosis is not diagnosed often enough. Watts recommends that older women who break their wrist or hip ask their doctor to be tested for osteoporosis.