| Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become weak and can break
from minor falls or even from a simple cough in some cases. It is a disease
characterized by low bone mass and deteriorating bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased
vulnerability to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and
wrist. Of the 10 million Americans estimated to have osteoporosis, eight million are women and two million are men.
|
|
- 55 percent of people 50 years of age and older
are estimated to be threatened by osteoporosis
- In the United States, 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the
condition and almost 34 million more are estimated to already have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk
- One in two women and one in four men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their remaining lifetime
- According to estimated figures, osteoporosis was responsible for more than 2 million fractures in 2005, including approximately:
297,000 hip fractures
547,000 vertebral fractures
397,000 wrist fractures
135,000 pelvic fractures
675,000 fractures at other sites |
 |
- The number of fractures due to osteoporosis is
estimated to rise to more than 3 million by 2025
Latest News: Bones
and Orthopaedics
|
|
Free Guide
|
