Osteoporosis is a major pubic health threat for 2 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women. In the United States, 7 to 8 million people have the disease, and approximately 17 million more have low bone mass which places them at increased risk.

Approximately 1 million Illinois women have osteoporosis.

The incidence of osteoporosis increases with age. Nearly half of all people age 75 or older are affected by this disease. Currently, Illinois has the sixth largest population of elderly persons in the United States.

A gradual loss of bone mass, generally beginning around age 35, is a normal occurrence for both men and women. After growth is complete, women usually lose from 30 percent to 50 percent of their bone density. If bone is no longer replaced as quickly as it is remised, a condition called osteoporosis develops, in which the bones become thin and brittle.

Known as the "silent thief," osteoporosis progresses without symptoms or pain until bones start to break, generally in the hip, spine or wrist.

Osteoporosis is the cause of many hip fractures. In 1994, Illinois data report 12,828 patients were admitted to hospitals with the primary diagnosis of hip fracture. This is a 5 percent increase over 1993.

Data indicates that many of these patients will not survive—the national mortality rate in the six months following a hip fracture is 12 to 20 percent, and approximately 50 percent of the survivors never walk independently again.

The exact medical cause of osteoporosis is not known, but a number of factors are known to heighten the risk, including a calcium poor diet, physical inactivity, reduced levels of estrogen, heredity, excessive cortisone or thyroid hormone, low body weight, tobacco use and excessive alcohol use.

The disease can be prevented through consumption of adequate calcium and vitamin D during childhood, adolescence and adulthood.