Osteoporosis can be defined as low bone mass leading to structural fragility or fragile bones. If one could see the bone of a person with severe osteoporosis it would look like a honeycomb.
Osteoporosis is a major disease of older Americans. 10,000,000 Americans are affected by this disease, and approximately 1.5 million fractures occur annually due to osteoporosis. These figures will rise significantly in the decades ahead unless action is taken now.
Like many nations, the United States faces the prospect of an aging population, and with it the expectation that the burden of chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, will increase.
In fact, without concerted action to address this issue, it is estimated that in 2020 one in two Americans over the age of 50 will have, or be at high risk of developing osteoporosis.
Healthy bones provide the body with a frame that allows for mobility and for protection against injury. Bones also serve as a storehouse for minerals that are vital to the functioning of many other life sustaining systems in the body.
Unhealthy bones, however, perform poorly in executing these functions. Bone fragility also leads to fractures, which are by far the most immportant consequence of poor bone health, since they can result in disability, diminished function, loss of independence, and premature death.
In recognition of the importance of promoting bone health and preventing fractures, the President has declared 2002-2011 as the Decade of the Bone and Joint. With this designation, the United States has joined wiht other nations throughout the world in committing resources to accelerate progress in a variety of areas related to the musculoskeletal system, including bone disease and arthritis.
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