Osteoporosis is a bone condition that all women should know about, including you. Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, 8 million of which are women.

Osteoporosis causes your bones to become weak and easily break. This happens because not enough new bone
is being formed to replace the old bone.

Osteoporosis is sometimes called the "silent thief," quietly robbing your bones of strength over time. Since there are few symptoms, you may not know your bones are weak until a sudden bump or fall causes you to break a bone. Osteoporosis can make bones so fragile that they break very easily. In fact one in two women over the age of 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture in her remaining lifetime.

Osteoporosis can be diagnosed using a simple, painless test called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) which determines your bone mass by taking x-rays of your bones.

If you have osteoporosis or are at risk for it, treatment can help prevent fractures. But you can also make a few simple lifestyle changes. Eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and staying physically active can help you protect and maintain your bone health.