The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 34 million are at risk for developing the disease. Osteoporosis affects the body in a number of ways.
Background
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become more porous, making them less dense. The disease is most common in women and more prevalent in people over 50 years of age.
Bone Fractures
As bones lose density, they become more brittle. As a result, a simple fall often results in a broken bone, especially in the hip.
Compression Fractures
Like other areas of the body, the spine is vulnerable to the effects of osteoporosis with patients often developing compression fractures, a condition where the vertebrae collapse onto one another. Compression fractures occur during the course of everyday activities like bending and lifting heavy items.
Appearance Changes
With compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, patients may actually lose height as vertebrae become 15 to 20 percent closer together along the spinal column. In some cases, the fractures also cause kyphosis, a rounding of the spine that is sometimes referred to a humpback.
Pain
As osteoporosis worsens, patients often experience generalized bone pain as well as localized pain in particular areas, such as the back, hips, neck, shoulders and feet.
Loss of Balance
Pain from osteoporosis often causes patients to move more stiffly, which has a negative impact on balance. This often causes falls, which, in turn, cause fractures, creating a cycle of pain to fractures to increased pain within patients.
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