Osteoporosis, as the name implies, is a decrease in the density of bone. Bone provides the body with support and protection, and a decrease in bone density can lead to an increased risk of fracture. The old saying “it takes 100 days to break a bone” refers to the slow rate of bone repair and healing. If the injury is to an important bone, it can be serious enough to cause death, or minor enough to affect mobility and cause great inconvenience to life. Fractures are also the most common cause of death and disability in the elderly. There is much more you need to know about osteoporosis.