Osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones, is a loss of bone mass, which makes
them become porous and fragile. It occurs most often in weight-bearing bones
such as the hips or spine but can affect any bone in the body. The humped back
- or dowager's hump - is the most well-known sign. In the United States today, one
in four women and one in eight men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is called the silent thief because of the slow, quiet way it creeps
up on people. You can't feel the bone loss as it's happening and, often, you're
not aware of what's going on until the damage has been done.
Most people know that the highest-risk groups include older women or those
who have gone through menopause. But there are others who are at risk as well,
including people who:
- take long-term corticosteroid therapy for illnesses such as asthma
- are or were malnourished or had a very low calcium intake
- have disorders that make it difficult for their bodies to properly use
calcium and vitamin D
- smoke
- lead a sedentary lifestyle
- use alcohol excessively
- drink too much caffeine (coffee, cola, tea)
- have a family history of osteoporosis
- have a history of anorexia or bulimia
- have rheumatoid arthritis
- had an early menopause (before age 45)
- weigh less than 57 kg or have lost more than 10% of their body weight at
age 25
- have undergone chemotherapy
Osteoporosis can have a major negative impact on your quality of life. It can lead to fractures, causing pain, and make moving about difficult, which can limit your independence. But there are ways to tackle bone loss early on and avoid much of the most damaging effects of osteoporosis.