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Osteoporosis
Make it clearer
Osteoporosis is a bone disease. Bone mineral density and mass may decrease, or the internal structure that gives bone its strength may change. The result is a higher risk of fracture.
Picture a structure losing material and strength from within without any clear warning on the outside. That is why osteoporosis is often called silent: it may cause no symptoms until a fracture occurs. This explanation does not diagnose an individual.
In brief
Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which bone mineral density and mass decrease, or bone structure and strength change, increasing the risk of fracture.
Picture bone as an internal scaffold. It can keep the same outer shape while losing material, organization, and strength within, making the scaffold less able to withstand force.
It is often silent and may not cause symptoms until a fracture occurs.
Sources (1)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIHOsteoporosisPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated