Osteoporosis Description: Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeleton in which the amount of calcium present in the bones slowly decreases causing them to become brittle and prone to fracture. Although generally afflicting elderly women, one form of osteoporosis also occurs in men. Symptoms: Osteoporosis is diagnosed when bone density has decreased to the point where fractures will happen with mild stress, reaching the so-called fracture threshold. Number of Americans diagnosed: More than 24 million Americans have osteoporosis, 80 percent of them women. Long-term problems/treatments: Osteoporosis is a major cause of disability and death in the elderly. In addition to the considerable pain and suffering osteoporosis causes, treatment for osteoporotic fractures increases health care costs by about $14 billion each year. Directory List Choose an illness from the menu below: Select here Allergies Alzheimer's disease Arthritis Asthma Bipolar disorder Chronic back problems Chronic bronchitis Chronic obstructive        pulmonary disease Cirrhosis Depression Developmental disabilities Diabetes Emphysema Endometriosis Epilepsy Glaucoma Hearing impairment Heart disease Hepatitis C High blood pressure Human Immunodeficiency        Virus (HIV) Kidney disease Lou Gehrig's disease Lupus Lyme disease Migraine Multiple sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy Orthopedic Impairments Osteoporosis Paralysis of the extremities Parkinson's disease Psoriasis Schizophrenia Sinusitis Stroke Thyroid condition         Previous      Next Resources National Osteoporosis Foundation Osteoporosis Online Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education Videos Home | Awareness | Patient Files | The Challenge | Your Stories | Outreach | Resources About the Program | About Fred Friendly Seminars | Our Partners | Site Map | Credits © 2001 Fred Friendly Seminars, Inc.