Osteoporosis
Definition
The word "osteoporosis" literally means "porous bones." Osteoporosis (pronounced OSS-tee-o-puh-RO-sis) occurs when bones begin to lose some of their essential elements. The most important of these elements is calcium. Over time, bone mass decreases. As a result, bones lose their strength, become fragile, and break easily. In extreme cases, even a sneeze or a sudden movement may be enough to break a bone.
Description
Osteoporosis is a serious health problem. About 28 million people in the United States have the condition. It is responsible for about 1.5 million fractures (broken bones) each year. The most common locations where breaks occur are the hip, spine, and wrist. Hip and spine injuries are the most serious. They often require hospitalization and major surgery. They may also lead to other serious consequences, including permanent disability and death.
To understand osteoporosis, it is helpful to understand how bones form. Bone is living tissue that is constantly renewed in a two-stage process. The first stage is formation. During formation, new bone tissue is built up from nutrients present in the bloodstream. The second stage is resorption. In this stage, bone cells break down. The elements of which are returned to the blood and other body fluids.
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