The Silent Bone Thief

“People hear about osteoporosis,” says Dr. Shimon Harary, an endocrinologist and bone specialist in Memphis, “but they greatly underestimate the effects of how severe it can be, and how widespread it actually is.”

Bones are living, growing tissue. They’re constantly breaking down and rebuilding, a normal part of the metabolic process. In fact, over the course of seven years, we get an entirely new skeleton. As we age, however, this process becomes less efficient, and our bones don’t rebuild as fast as they break down. This causes a loss in bone density, which can lead to osteoporosis, a condition where bones become porous and fragile. Osteoporosis actually means “porous bones,” and people who suffer from it are susceptible to fractures.

Bones grow in length until we’ve reached about age 17, and continue to thicken until we reach our late twenties. This is called peak bone mass. Sometime during our thirties, we begin to lose bone mass. For women, loss is minimal until menopause, when it becomes more dramatic, increasing the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Several factors increase an individual’s risk of developing osteoporosis. Genetics play a role —those who have a parent with it are more likely to have it too. Women with a slighter build are more vulnerable. Certain illnesses and conditions will also make an individual more susceptible.