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Overview

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones less dense and weaker than they should be. In osteoporosis, bones become more porous and can break more easily, sometimes during a minor fall or routine movement. It can affect anyone, but it becomes more common with aging, especially after menopause. In simple terms, the osteoporosis definition is a loss of bone strength that increases the risk of fractures.

Symptoms

Osteoporosis Symptoms

  • A bone fracture after a minor fall may signal weakened bones.
  • Sudden back pain may result from a spinal compression fracture.
  • Loss of height may develop gradually as spinal bones weaken.
  • A stooped posture may occur when vertebrae become compressed.

Causes

What Causes Osteoporosis?

Bone is living tissue that is constantly remodeled: old bone is broken down while new bone is formed. Osteoporosis develops when bone breakdown happens faster than bone formation, when new bone formation decreases, or when both processes change. Over time, this imbalance reduces bone mass and leaves bones thin and fragile.

Hormones, health conditions, and medicines

Reduced estrogen after menopause can speed bone loss, and other hormone changes may also affect bone health. Medical conditions and medicines that affect bone turnover, nutrition, absorption, kidney function, or movement can contribute as well. What causes osteoporosis is usually a combination of several factors rather than one single cause.

Risk Factors

Osteoporosis Risk Factors

NONMODIFIABLE FACTORS

Older age, being female, menopause, a family history of osteoporosis, a smaller body frame, and a previous fracture can increase risk.

MODIFIABLE OR TREATABLE FACTORS

Smoking, low physical activity, low calcium or vitamin D intake, heavy alcohol use, and some medicines can raise risk and may be addressed with support.

Review your risks

Discuss medical contributors

Ask a clinician to review long-term corticosteroid use and conditions affecting hormones, nutrition, absorption, kidney health, or mobility. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice.

Complications

Osteoporosis Complications

  • Vertebral compression fractures can cause back pain and changes in posture.
  • Hip fractures can seriously affect mobility and recovery.
  • Wrist fractures can make everyday activities more difficult.
  • Persistent pain may continue after a fracture.
  • Reduced mobility can limit exercise and daily activities.
  • Loss of independence may follow serious fractures or repeated injuries.
  • Prolonged immobility can increase the risk of additional health problems.

Diagnosis

How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?

Clinicians review your fracture history, family history, medicines, health conditions, changes in height, and risk of falling. They may also consider your age and other factors before selecting tests. This assessment helps determine whether bone density testing or additional evaluation is appropriate.

What a DXA scan measures

A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, often called a DXA or DEXA scan, measures bone mineral density. It is commonly performed at a hospital, imaging center, or outpatient clinic, usually at the hip and spine. Bone density results and, when appropriate, fracture-risk tools help classify bone health and guide treatment decisions in the context of your overall risk.

Treatment & Management

Osteoporosis Treatment and Management

Osteoporosis treatment is individualized according to bone density, previous fractures, age, other health conditions, current medicines, and estimated fracture risk. A care plan may combine daily bone-health habits with prescription treatment and ongoing monitoring.

DAILY BONE HEALTH

Get adequate calcium and vitamin D, do weight-bearing and resistance exercise as appropriate, stop smoking, limit alcohol, and reduce fall hazards at home.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

Prescription options may include antiresorptive medicines or bone-building medicines, selected and monitored according to your fracture risk and health needs.

Treatment decisions

Review medicines safely

Do not start, stop, or change osteoporosis medicine or supplements without discussing the benefits, risks, kidney health, other medicines, and monitoring plan with a clinician.

Prevention & Screening

Osteoporosis Prevention and Screening

  • Do resistance and weight-bearing activity as safely advised.
  • Get adequate calcium and vitamin D through food, supplements, or both when recommended.
  • Avoid tobacco products to support bone health.
  • Limit alcohol intake.
  • Maintain muscle strength and balance to help prevent falls.
  • Reduce fall hazards such as loose rugs, poor lighting, and clutter.

Who should receive bone density screening?

Outlook and Prognosis

Outlook and Prognosis for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is usually a chronic condition, but it can be managed over time. Treatment and healthy habits can slow bone loss, improve bone strength in some people, and substantially reduce the risk of fractures. Ongoing follow-up helps adjust the plan as health needs and fracture risk change.

When Should You See a Doctor

When Should You See a Doctor?

  • Seek care after a fracture caused by a minor fall.
  • Ask for medical evaluation after sudden severe back pain.
  • Discuss unexplained loss of height with a clinician.
  • Arrange an assessment for a new stooped posture.
  • Schedule a bone-health review if you have multiple osteoporosis risk factors.

Branches

2 topics

Tests & Procedure

1 topic

Symptoms

1 topic