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Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease” for a reason. Oftentimes, the first sign that a person has osteoporosis occurs after a fall that results in a broken hip or fractured wrist. Osteoporosis is a silent disease. If bone pain is present, there may be associated conditions present such as osteoarthritis, or small fractures responsible for the pain. Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a hip to fracture or a vertebra to collapse.

Osteoporosis is very common in later life. The older you are, the more likely you are to get it. Osteoporosis is not just a problem for postmenopausal women; it is a lifelong concern for everyone. Although some people are more at risk than others, this life threatening condition affects both men and women and crosses all ages (including children), ethnic groups, and lifestyles. Osteoporosis is quickly becoming a household word, and authorities now suggest that nearly 45 million Americans are facing a major bone health threat. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, an estimated 10 million people in the US today have osteoporosis, and an estimated 34 million are at risk of osteoporosis due to low bone density.

Osteoporosis is an important public health problem that the World Health Organization considers to be second only to cardiovascular disease as a public health concern. Osteoporosis also disproportionately affects women and older age cohorts. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes thin and weak bone. Preventing the progression of osteoporosis can help reduce the risk of fracturing the bone. Osteoporosis is the underlying cause of more than 1.5 million fractures annually (300,000 hip fractures, approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, and more than 300,000 fractures in other areas). The estimated national cost (hospitals and nursing homes) for osteoporosis and related injuries is $14 billion each year in the United States.

Preventing osteoporosis starts in childhood by building bone mass. If that time has past for you, there are ways that you can slow the rate of bone loss and ways that you can minimize your risk of fractures. Preventive medicine is an Okay term, it’s a good thing, it has everyone’s support. Yet despite all the talk, the bulk of our medical expenditure still goes on the treatment of established disease rather than on its prevention.

Vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb and process calcium, so it is included in all supplements programs. Also, the body cannot process and consume more than 500mg of calcium at a given time (about 300mg in a glass of milk), so you should pace your calcium intake throughout the day instead of having 2 glasses of milk and a calcium supplement candy all at one sitting. Vitamin D is produced in the skin by exposure to the sun and is found in fortified milk and other foods. For individuals who are not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in the diet, supplements may be helpful.

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