What is osteoporosis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Osteoporosis (literally, "porous bone") is a disorder in which bones lose density, gradually becoming weaker and brittle -- often resulting in broken bones. These fractures are more likely in the hip, wrist, and spine, and can be caused by even simple and non-strenuous activities.
Osteoporosis affects about 10 million Americans, and an additional 18 million Americans suffer from low bone mass and an associated increased risk for the condition.Osteoporosis (literally, "porous bone") is a disorder in which bones lose density, gradually becoming weaker and brittle -- often resulting in broken bones. These fractures are more likely in the hip, wrist, and spine, and can be caused by... More -
Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Normally, your body recycles old bone components to make new ones, and it also deposits new calcium and other minerals into your bone to make them hard and dense. But after you turn 35, your bones stop growing and we gradually lose bone density, which means that the tiny holes in them get larger while the hard substance gets thinner. So your bones become more porous, weaker, and more susceptible to injury and fractures.
If the decrease in bone density is significant enough, it can lead to osteoporosis-a condition that thins and weakens the bones to the point where they can break very easily. In people with osteoporosis, the deterioration of old bone cells outpaces the formation of new bone cells.
If you are getting enough physical activity, controlling blood pressure, and eliminating cigarettes, you're well on your way from keeping osteoporosis at bay.
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Normally, your body recycles old bone components to make new ones, and it also deposits new calcium and other minerals into your bone to make them hard and dense. But after you turn 35, your bones stop growing and we gradually lose bone density,... More -
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak and contain less bone tissue. Osteoporosis literally means "porous bones." The name is appropriate because if you have osteoporosis your bones are less dense and appear to have more pores or holes in them. The lower bone density may predispose you to bone fractures.
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak and contain less bone tissue. Osteoporosis literally means "porous bones." The name is appropriate because if you have osteoporosis your bones are less dense and appear to have more pores or... More -
Debra Fulghum Bruce PhD answered:Osteoporosis is thinning of the bones, or a decrease in the density of the bone. As your bones become thinner, they become easier to fracture or break. For millions of older adults, mostly women, such daily activities as standing, walking, and bending may be enough to cause a broken bone. These fractures commonly occur in the back, the hip, the foot, and the wrist.
Osteoporosis is thinning of the bones, or a decrease in the density of the bone. As your bones become thinner, they become easier to fracture or break. For millions of older adults, mostly women, such daily activities as standing, walking,... More -
Dr. Harris McIlwain answered:Osteoporosis is a disease that involves thinning of the bones, a decrease in bone density. Over time, as our bones become weaker, they become easier to fracture or break. For millions of older adults (mostly women) with osteoporosis, daily activities such as walking, bending, coughing, or reaching for dishes in a cabinet may be stressful enough to break a bone. These fractures commonly occur in the back, hip, foot, and wrist. In fact, with this disease, a seemingly minor injury that otherwise might go unnoticed can result in a fracture with severe pain, limitation, and expense.
Osteoporosis is a disease that involves thinning of the bones, a decrease in bone density. Over time, as our bones become weaker, they become easier to fracture or break. For millions of older adults (mostly women) with osteoporosis, daily... More -
Dr. James Fortenberry of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta answered:Osteoporosis means there is loss of bone. This makes bones weak and they can break easily. Osteoporosis can also cause pain and limit physical activity.
Osteoporosis means there is loss of bone. This makes bones weak and they can break easily. Osteoporosis can also cause pain and limit physical activity. More -
Riverside Women's Health answered:Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones. People with osteoporosis have bones that are weak and break easily.
A broken bone can really affect your life. It can cause severe pain and disability. It can make it harder to do daily tasks on your own, such as walking.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones. People with osteoporosis have bones that are weak and break easily. A broken bone can really affect your life. It can cause severe pain and disability. It can make it harder to do daily tasks on your own, such... More -
Anthony Cirillo answered:Osteoporosis is a common bone disease. Osteoporosis results in thinning of the cortical bone, so that often the remaining bone is no thicker than an eggshell by the time an individual is in her 80s. This thinning can lead to bones that are so weak that a stumble, trip, or fall can lead to a fracture.
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease. Osteoporosis results in thinning of the cortical bone, so that often the remaining bone is no thicker than an eggshell by the time an individual is in her 80s. This thinning can lead to bones that are so weak... More -
Osteoporosis is a decrease in the bone density or thinning of bone tissue, which happens over time. This disease can lead to increased risk of fractures. Osteoporosis can affect anyone. However, it most likely presents itself in women after menopause.Osteoporosis is a decrease in the bone density or thinning of bone tissue, which happens over time. This disease can lead to increased risk of fractures. Osteoporosis can affect anyone. However, it most likely presents itself in women after... More -
Dr. Michael T Murray answered:Osteoporosis literally means "porous bone." While many people erroneously believe that osteoporosis is the result of the loss of calcium and other minerals of bone, it actually involves a loss of both the mineral (inorganic) and nonmineral (organic matrix, composed primarily of protein) components of bone. Bone is dynamic, living tissue that is constantly being broken down and rebuilt, even in adults. Osteoporosis occurs when there is more bone breaking down than being formed.
Osteoporosis literally means "porous bone." While many people erroneously believe that osteoporosis is the result of the loss of calcium and other minerals of bone, it actually involves a loss of both the mineral (inorganic) and nonmineral... More -
Intermountain Healthcare answered:Osteoporosis is thin, weak bones. When you have this illness, your bones can break easily and heal slowly. Anyone can have osteoporosis, but it happens more often in older people. Also, more women have it than men.Osteoporosis is thin, weak bones. When you have this illness, your bones can break easily and heal slowly. Anyone can have osteoporosis, but it happens more often in older people. Also, more women have it than men. More -
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that makes them weak and prone to fracture. Osteoporosis is considered a silent disease, because bone loss itself is gradual and painless. There are usually no symptoms to indicate that a person is developing osteoporosis early in the condition. Bone is living tissue that is in a constant state of formation and resorption. Bone resorption is the gradual loss of bone. As individuals age, formation lessens and after a peak bone mass is achieved, bone mass remains stable (resorption and formation are equal). Osteoclasts are the principal cells responsible for bone resorption.
By their mid-30s, most individuals begin to gradually lose bone strength as the balance between bone resorption and bone formation shifts, so that more bone is lost than can be replaced. As a result, bones become less dense and structurally weaker, called osteopenia. Osteopenia refers to mild bone loss that is not severe enough to be called osteoporosis, but that increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. As this occurs, bones lose calcium, phosphorus, boron, and other minerals and become lighter, less dense, and more porous. This makes the bones weaker and increases the chance that they might break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteopenia can progress painlessly into osteoporosis until a bone breaks or fractures.
Although any bone is susceptible to fracture, the most common fractures in osteoporosis occur at the spine, wrist, and hip. Spine and hip fractures in particular may lead to chronic pain, long-term disability, and even death.
Osteoporosis is more common in older individuals and non-Hispanic white women, but can occur at any age, in men as well as in women, and in all ethnic groups.
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Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that makes them weak and prone to fracture. Osteoporosis is considered a silent disease, because bone loss itself is gradual and painless. There are usually no symptoms to indicate that a person is... More -
RealAge answered:Osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic bone disease -- a disorder of the chemical reactions occurring in bone. This disorder consists of loss of some of the mineral content and protein structure of the bone. The resulting deterioration makes the bone weak and increases the risk of fractures (breaks). Genetics probably plays a role in this disease, but the exact mechanism is not known.
Two points should be remembered. Osteoporosis is not the same as low bone density. For example, healthy young women who are small and thin have fairly low bone density. Also, osteoporosis is not the same as the slow bone loss that's normal and usually inevitable as we age. (Such loss averages about 0.5% of bone mass a year from age 25 onward, and 0.75% a year after age 50.)
Osteoporosis is a specific bone disease in which the collagen in bone -- its strong, fibrous protein network -- develops gaps in its connecting links. The gaps appear because the two kinds of bone cells that normally work together to dissolve old bone tissue and manufacture new, replacement bone tissue do not communicate properly. The bone-dissolving cells increase their activity, but the bone-rebuilding cells do not get the message to promptly form new cells.
The two most common forms of this disorder are type 1 (postmenopausal) and type 2 (late-life) osteoporosis.Osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic bone disease -- a disorder of the chemical reactions occurring in bone. This disorder consists of loss of some of the mineral content and protein structure of the bone. The resulting deterioration... More -
Baptist Health South Florida answered:Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disorder. It is a chronic condition characterized by reduced bone strength, low bone mass and a higher risk of bone fracture, especially in the hip, spine and wrist.Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disorder. It is a chronic condition characterized by reduced bone strength, low bone mass and a higher risk of bone fracture, especially in the hip, spine and wrist. More -
Dr. Jack Cooper of Baptist Health South Florida answered:Osteoporosis is a disease of progressive bone loss associated with an increased risk of fractures. Many of these are painful fractures of the hip, spine, wrist, arm and leg.Osteoporosis is a disease of progressive bone loss associated with an increased risk of fractures. Many of these are painful fractures of the hip, spine, wrist, arm and leg. More -
Healthwise answered:Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones thin, brittle, and easy to break. It's related to the loss of bone mass that happens as a natural part of aging. It's most common in women who have gone through menopause, but it can also occur in men.
As osteoporosis gets worse, it can lead to broken bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. Treatment can slow bone loss and increase bone thickness.
Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones thin, brittle, and easy to break. It's related to the loss of bone mass that happens as a natural part of aging. It's most common in women who have gone through menopause, but it can also occur in men.... More
