Osteoporosis is a condition in which there is a significant decrease in bone mass as well as structural deterioration of bone tissue, which over time can result in an increased susceptibility to fractures. Since bones are the supporting framework for our bodies, protect our internal organs, and store vital nutrients and blood-producing cells, building and maintaining bone mass is essential to our overall health and general wellbeing.

The most important years for accumulating bone mass are from pre-adolescence to the age of 30. Diet, a sedentary lifestyle or complete immobilization, specific diseases or illnesses, insufficient bone formation from youth, age, extensive or prolonged use of certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption, use of tobacco products, ethnic origin, hormones, gender (women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis) and genetics all contribute to the onset of osteoporosis. Also, small-boned, thin women are particularly at risk, especially Caucasian and Asian females. Even if you're male, you're not off the hook! Over 2 million men in the U.S. are currently diagnosed with osteoporosis. Although this number seems small compared to the number of women with the disease, insufficient research may contribute to incomplete or inaccurate diagnoses and lead to underreporting of the problem among health care professionals.

Bones affected by osteoporosis can break with even slight trauma. Normal bones are somewhat porous but still dense; bones showing signs of advanced osteoporosis will appear sponge-like and be very brittle. In some extreme cases, just a bump on the arm or leg can result in a break! However, for most people, osteoporosis begins gradually and, without specific testing, can go undetected for years until the problem becomes severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor's office. That broken wrist or ankle may be the sign of a larger problem for people at risk for the disease. That's why it is crucial to know what osteoporosis is, what the symptoms are, how to prevent it, and-if you already have osteoporosis-how to treat it.