Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease in the United States. It is a skeletal disease in which bones become brittle and prone to fracture. Bone density is decreased to where fractures occur without severe stress or injury to the bones. Due to its silent presentation, this disease is usually overlooked and undertreated. It is most commonly diagnosed after a fracture has occurred.
Until approximately age 40, our bodies are breaking down and building up bone work harmoniously. As a person ages or in the presence of certain conditions, this system breaks down, and the two processes become dysfunctional. The reasons for this occurrence are unclear, but declining hormone levels, particularly sex hormones, are thought to be a factor. Some adults have a very high turnover rate of bone, and some have a very gradual turnover. Still, the breakdown of bone eventually overtakes the build-up and results in osteoporosis.
