Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin, weak and break easily, most often from a minor fall. The most common broken bones are the spine, wrist or hip. Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease." You can't feel or see your bones getting thinner. Bone loses density, which measures the amount of calcium and minerals in the bone. Osteoporosis typically affects the elderly, but it is not a normal part of aging. Many of the risk factor can be controlled; however age being one of the biggest risk factor is unavoidable, along with race and gender. Osteoporosis can happen to anyone, it has not age, gender or ethical boundaries. However it does tend to affect more women of Caucasian and Asian descent. It also affects women that are going through menopause. All of these risk factors are unavoidable. Men and other population can get osteoporosis; they are just at a slightly lower risk than Caucasian and Asian women. Certain medications such as oral or inhaled corticosteroid medications that may be necessary in treating other heath condition my lead to osteoporosis. Medication such as corticosteroids and steroids can affect bone density. Other genetic risk factors are family history of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Having a family history does not mean that you are automatically going to get the disease but it can be a factor.

There are many controllable factors in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Diet, exercise and other behaviors are at least as important as genetics in determining who develops osteoporosis. People that exercise 3 hour a week or more have a considerably lower change of developing the disease. Weight-baring exercise that stresses the bones is important because it promotes the body to aid in calcium to the bones. Weight lifting exercise can lower the risk of osteoporosis because muscle building puts considerable stress on