Twenty-eight million Americans suffer from this disease, a condition which can cause crippling fractures. It is the major cause of disability among American women. However, while there is no cure for osteoporosis, it is important to remember that proper treatment can help stop further bone loss and prevent fractures. The disease weakens the skeletal structure leaving bones so thin, fragile and brittle that even a minor strain, bump or fall can lead to a fracture or a collapsed vertebra. There are no warning signs or symptoms of osteoporosis.
Some groups are at greater risk.
Everyone will experience some bone loss as they age, but not all will develop osteoporosis. Research shows that factors such as race, size, gender, and age put certain groups of people at greater risk of acquiring the disease. Caucasians and Asians have a 2 to 3 times greater chance of developing osteoporosis than African Americans and Hispanics. Also at high risk are thin people with small body frames. Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men because they tend to have lower bone mass.