| Osteoporosis has always been known to threaten | | | | With new bone material constantly replacing the |
| women, as it afflicts 8 million females in the US, | | | | old, more bone is produced than removed during |
| but this bone-thinning disorder is becoming a | | | | childhood, which lets the skeleton grow. Bone |
| serious public health issue among men also. More | | | | mass peaks for most people during their 30s, |
| than 2 million men may be at risk for | | | | with the processing reversing itself afterwards. |
| osteoporosis and bone fractures, with 6% of | | | | The amount of bone slowly begins to decline as |
| them over age 50 will experience a hip fracture | | | | the removal of old exceeds the formation of |
| as a result of this disease. Even though | | | | new. Because female hormone production drops |
| osteoporosis does not affect men as often as it | | | | rapidly at menopause, this condition is immediately |
| does women, the risk for men increases with | | | | associated with increased bone loss. Hormonal |
| age, with the risk factors being similar to those of | | | | changes in men occur much more slowly, with |
| women. Osteoporosis often shows no symptom | | | | testosterone levels declining about 1% each year |
| until a bone fracture occurs, which makes early | | | | after the age of 40, remaining unnoticeable until |
| detection extremely important. | | | | after age 60. |