| According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation ( : | | | | unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent |
| "Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become | | | | disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures |
| fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if | | | | also have serious consequences, including loss of |
| left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly | | | | height, severe back pain, and deformity. |
| until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known | | | | If you look at healthy bones you will see that there |
| as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and | | | | are small holes between the bone cells. In |
| wrist." | | | | osteoporosis those pores are larger making the |
| While any bone can be affected, of special concern | | | | bones brittle and easy to break. The best way to |
| are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture | | | | prevent osteoporosis is to prevent bone loss in the |
| almost always requires hospitalization and major | | | | first place. |
| surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk | | | | |