It's about eight times more common in women than men. About 1.3 million older people suffer fractures each year in this country due to osteoporosis. It's a major cause of disability among older women. There's no cure for osteoporosis, though there are treatments. Thus you may not be aware of it until you actually fracture a bone.
Prevention is the best line of defense.
Unfortunately, many women think they don't have to start worrying about osteoporosis until menopause. This a myth. Recent research shows that certain lifelong habits are the best preventive against osteoporosis. Still, it's never too late to begin. Bones, like skin, deserve special care.