Osteoporosis

Summary

Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens the bones. Your bones become fragile and fracture (break) easily, especially the bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. In the United States, millions of people either already have osteoporosis or are at high risk due to low bone mass.

Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is more common in older women. Risk factors include:

• Getting older
• Being small and thin
• Having a family history of osteoporosis
• Taking certain medicines
• Being a white or Asian woman
• Having low bone density

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. You might not know you have it until you break a bone. A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your bone health.

To keep bones strong, eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise, and do not smoke. If needed, medicines can also help. It is also important to try to avoid falling down. Falls are the number one cause of fractures in older adults.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone Density Scan National Library of Medicine
• Bone Mineral Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Treatments and Therapies

• Bone Density: MedinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Osteoporosis Treatment Endocrine Society
• Osteoporosis Treatment: Medications Can Help Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Radiological Society of North America

Patient Handouts

• Bone mineral density test Medical Encyclopedia
• Calcium, vitamin D, and your bones Medical Encyclopedia
• Exercise, lifestyle, and your bones Medical Encyclopedia
• Medicines for osteoporosis Medical Encyclopedia
• Osteoporosis Medical Encyclopedia
• What causes bone loss? Medical Encyclopedia

Living With

• Calcium and Vitamin D: Important for Bone Health National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Food and Your Bones — Osteoporosis Nutrition Guidelines Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteoporosis National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteoporotic Fractures National Institutes of Health

Encyclopedia

• Compression fractures of the back Medical Encyclopedia
• Hump on upper back (dorsocervical fat pad) Medical Encyclopedia
• Lumbar MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Lumbosacral spine x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
• Osteoporosis Medical Encyclopedia
• Thoracic spine x-ray Medical Encyclopedia

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Exercise for Your Bone Health National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Healthy Bones at Every Age American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Osteoporosis Food and Drug Administration
• Preventing Another Broken Bone National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Older Adults

• Exercising with Chronic Conditions National Institute on Aging
• Osteoporosis in Aging: Protect Your Bones with Exercise National Institutes of Health

Statistics and Research

• FastStats: Osteoporosis National Center for Health Statistics

Specifics

• Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis American College of Rheumatology

Genetics

• Hajdu-Cheney syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Juvenile primary osteoporosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Children

• Kids and Their Bones National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

• Osteoporosis Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Osteoporosis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• The Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What It Means to You National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Related Issues

• Osteoporosis and Your Spine Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
• Pelvic Fractures Merck & Co., Inc.
• Recovering from Falls Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
• Stress Fractures Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Men

• Osteoporosis in Men National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Women

• Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Bone Health National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Journal Articles

• Osteoporosis