Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by weakened bones that are more fragile and susceptible to fractures. The word literally means "porous bone" — under a microscope, healthy bone looks like a dense honeycomb, while osteoporotic bone has much larger holes and spaces, making it less dense and less structurally sound.

Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and rebuilt in a process called bone remodeling. In childhood and young adulthood, new bone is formed faster than old bone is removed, so bone mass increases. Peak bone mass is typically reached around age 30. After that point, bone remodeling continues but the balance gradually shifts — more bone is removed than replaced, leading to a gradual loss of bone density. In osteoporosis, this loss is accelerated, causing bones to become dangerously thin and fragile.

Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. Many people don't know they have osteoporosis until they experience a fracture from a minor fall, bump, or even a sneeze. The most common osteoporotic fractures occur in the hip, spine (vertebral compression fractures), and wrist. Hip fractures are particularly serious — approximately 20% of older adults who suffer a hip fracture die within one year.

If you're postmenopausal, over 50, have a family history of osteoporosis, or have risk factors like long-term corticosteroid use, low body weight, or smoking, bone density screening may be appropriate. Understanding your bone density status allows for early intervention that can prevent fractures.

Prevention starts decades before osteoporosis develops. Building strong bones in youth through calcium-rich nutrition, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise creates a larger bone "bank account" to draw from as age-related bone loss occurs. At any age, regular weight-bearing exercise (walking, dancing, stair climbing) and resistance training stimulate bone formation and slow bone loss.