Significance

• Ten million people in the United States have osteoporosis, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), which claims millions more are at risk of developing the disease.
  
  

Risks

• The Mayo Clinic identifies risk factors for developing osteoporosis---smoking, alcoholism, consuming too little calcium and vitamin D, being anorexic, having low estrogen or testosterone levels, and a family history of the disease.
  
  

Symptoms

• Osteoporosis patients often suffer from back pain, stooped posture, loss of height, and hip, wrist or other bone fractures. Other symptoms include brittle fingernails, abdominal pain, tooth loss and periodontal disease, reports hormone.org.
  
  

Medication

• Prescription medicines such as bisphosphonates preserve bone mass and keep bones from breaking down. The Mayo Clinic reports that other drugs used to slow bone loss or improve bone density include raloxifene, calcitonin, and tamoxifen.
  
  

Other Treatment

• According to NIAMS, treatment of osteoporosis includes dietary changes and exercise. Hormone therapy and physical therapy to improve posture and reduce back pain may also be recommended.