Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis literally means “porous bones” — bones that were once strong have become fragile.

This insidious disease is sometimes called “the silent thief” because there are no symptoms. Yet it works little by little over a period of decades to rob your bones of calcium—a mineral that keeps them strong. Older women are the main victims of osteoporosis, as they suffer nearly 1.5 million fractures to the hips, forearms, and vertebrae each year. Because bones become thin and brittle, recovering from these fractures can be a long and complex process, with possible life-threatening complications.