Understanding and preventing osteoporosis.

1. Osteoporosis is a condition in which the amount of bone tissue is so low that the bones easily fracture in response to minimal force. 2. Osteoporosis affects more than 25 million Americans, 80% of whom are women. Because osteoporosis is a "silent disease" that can progress undetected for decades, early screening can identify women at risk which may help avert the escalation of this health problem. 3. Risk factors include older age; female; white or Asian ethnicity; normal or early menopause; lifestyle factors including smoking, excessive alcohol intake, little or no exercise, taking inadequate amounts of calcium; medications and disease; and heredity. 4. Prevention efforts need to be directed toward education related to the need for adequate dietary calcium and the need for weight bearing exercise. Health care providers should develop methods for screening clients to determine whether they are at risk and need a bone density test.