Most people will not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a bump or fall cause their vertebrae to collapse or a fracture to occur.

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease characterised by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue which leads to bone fragility and increased risk of fractures.

The disease can result in disfigurement, low self-esteem and reduced or loss of mobility. At its worse, osteoporosis is responsible for more female deaths than from breast and ovarian cancer combined.

Most of these women die as a result of osteoporotic fractures.

Canadian statistics estimate that one-in-four women over the age of 50 and one-in-eight men over the age of 50 have the disease -- but osteoporosis can strike at any age.

According to the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, the disease and the fractures it cause costs that country around $1.3 billion each year.

There are no current statistics on the prevalence of Osteoporosis in Bermuda.

Researchers maintain that there is not one single cause for osteoporosis, but there are several factors that play a role in the disease's development.

Having your doctor perform a risk factor assessment is an important first step in determining a person's risk of osteoporosis.

Here are a list of some of the most common risk factors: Female; Age 50 or older; Post menopause; Not enough calcium or vitamin D in your diet and limited exposure to sunlight; Little physical activity; A family history of osteoporosis; A smoker; White or Eurasian ancestry; Small-boned; Excessive caffeine consumption (consistently three or more cups of coffee, tea or cola a day); and Excessive alcohol consumption (consistently more than two drinks a day).

If your doctor determines that you are at high risk for the disease, he/she may suggest you get a Bone Mineral Density test via a bone densitometre.

A BMD test will reveal if someone has osteoporosis or how likely they are to develop it in the future.

Over the years researchers have accumulated strong evidence that calcium plays an important role in healthy bones -- thus an essential part of osteoporosis prevention.

Source: Osteoporosis Society of Canada.