How Many People Have Osteoporosis ?

How Many People Have Osteoporosis ?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones if the individual loose their density. They become porous and have lesser solid. This makes the bones weaker and brittle resulting in increase in the risk of fractures especially of the hip, wrist and spine.

In the US alone, almost 40 million citizens either run the risk of getting this disorder or already have. Although this condition can affect both men and women, it is more common in women especially post-menopause. While 80% of the people suffering from osteoporosis are women, almost 80% of women above 65 years suffer from this condition. It has been found that over 11/2 million cases of fractures are due to osteoporosis and $15 billion is spent in fracture treatment.

Men also stand a risk of getting this disorder. Almost 1.5 million men suffer from osteoporosis while almost 3.5 million have the risk of getting this disorder.

In order to maintain the density of bones, one should have sufficient intake of calcium and other minerals. The body should be healthy enough to produce adequate amounts of estrogen in women, and testosterone in men respectively. Additionally, Vitamin D is essential for proper absorption of calcium in the body. From 30 years and beyond, the bones in the body tend to loose their density. If the nutritional intake is insufficient or if the body is unable to regulate the minerals in the bones, they tend to become fragile. This ultimately results in osteoporosis.

Work is still in progress to better the facilities available to detect early, treat and prevent occurrence of osteoporosis.

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How Many People Have Osteoporosis ?