a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.
Alternative Names
Thin bones; Low bone density; Metabolic bone disease; Hip fracture – osteoporosis; Compression fracture – osteoporosis; Wrist fracture – osteoporosis
Causes
Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease.
Osteoporosis increases the risk of breaking a bone. About one half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra (bones of the spine) during their lifetime. Spine fractures are the most common.
Your body needs the minerals calcium and phosphate to make and keep healthy bones.
