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ShareOsteoporosis is a disease of bone in which the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered.
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Osteoporotic bones are more susceptible to fracture.
Osteoporosis is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as either a bone mineral density 2.5 standard deviations below peak bone mass (20-year-old sex-matched healthy person average) as measured by DXA, or any fragility fracture.
While treatment modalities are becoming available (such as the bisphosphonates), prevention is still considered the most important way to reduce fracture.
Due to its hormonal component, more women, particularly after menopause, suffer from osteoporosis than men.
In addition it may be caused by various hormonal conditions, smoking and medications (specifically glucocorticoids).
Osteoporotic fractures are those that occur under slight amount of stresses that would not normally lead to fractures in nonosteoporotic people.
Typical fractures occur in the vertebral column, hip and wrist.
For more information about the topic Osteoporosis, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Bone fracture — A bone fracture is a medical condition in which a bone becomes cracked, splintered, or bisected as a result of physical trauma. In children, whose ... > read more
Human skeleton — The human skeleton is made of individual or joined bones, supported and supplemented by a structure of ligaments, tendons, muscles, cartilage and ... > read more
Rickets — Osteomalacia, also known as rickets, is among the most frequent childhood diseases in developing countries. The predominant cause is a vitamin D ... > read more
Bone — Bone, also called osseous tissue is a type of hard endoskeletal connective tissue found in many vertebrate animals. Bones support body structures, ... > read more
Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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