At this point, the amount of bone in the skeleton typically begins to decline slowly as removal of old bone exceeds formation of new bone. While women lose bone mass rapidly in the years following menopause, by age 65 or 70, women and men lose bone mass at the same rate, and calcium absorption decreases in both sexes. When bone loss is excessive, bone can become fragile and break. Once bone is lost it cannot, as yet, be replaced. Bones that have weakened are more likely to fracture.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease that progresses without symptoms until a fracture occurs.
Fractures resulting from osteoporosis typically occur in the hip, spine, and wrist and can be permanently disabling. Chronic diseases that affect the kidneys, lungs, stomach, and intestines or alter hormone levels. Undiagnosed low levels of the sex hormone testosterone. The older you are, the greater your risk. Osteoporosis can be effectively treated if it is detected before significant bone loss has occurred.