Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become weak and porous, particularly affecting people over 50. While the risk of osteoporosis and fractures increases with age, they are not inevitable. According to Dr. Deborah Sellmeyer from the Johns Hopkins Metabolic Bone Center, there are many ways to prevent fractures. Key health choices include: adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Although more women develop osteoporosis, men are also affected. In fact, 20% of white men in America over 50 will suffer a fracture related to osteoporosis in their lifetime. About 90% of bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, so building good bone health habits when young is crucial. Osteoporosis is a serious condition that can lead to fatal hip fractures. Weak bones can even break spontaneously without obvious trauma. Osteoporosis usually has no clear symptoms and is hard to detect without a bone density test. While individuals with osteoporosis may not return to the “normal” range of bone density, medications can increase bone density by a few percent per year over three to four years. Proper prevention and treatment can significantly reduce the complications of osteoporosis and improve quality of life.