Who gets it?

In 2002, there were almost 44 million women and men in the United States with either osteoporosis or low bone mass, a condition of thinning bones that increases as individual's risk for developing osteoporosis. In New York State alone, 3 million men and women have osteoporosis or low bone mass. You might ask yourself whether you are one of them.

In the United States, nearly one of every two Caucasian or Asian women over age fifty will experience a fracture as a consequence of osteoporosis. Men and women of other ethnic groups have a slightly lower but still substantial risk for fracture. For example, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, " Five percent of African-American women older than 50 are estimated to have osteoporosis. Another 35 percent are estimated to have low bone mass."

Although osteoporosis is common, it does not have to be a normal part of aging. While it is typical to lose some bone mass as you age, it is not normal to develop osteoporosis, to experience painful fractures, or to lose more than 1-1/2 inches of height. Osteoporosis may be prevented, is easily diagnosed, and can be treated.