Other articles on Bone Disease:

1. Breaking News on Brittle Bone Disease
   
2. Top Five Misconceptions about Bone Diseases
3. Vitamin D and Osteoporosis: Prevent Bone Disease

Women age 45 and beyond take note: osteoporosis is the most common form of bone disease; it occurs at a rate 60% higher in women than men, leaves bones weak, brittle and at risk of breaking. With knowledge and preventative steps you can hold it at bay.

Here are some of the other types of bone disease that can affect women:

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: This disease, known as brittle bones disease, is passed down from parent to child through genes. It causes bones to be brittle and break under light conditions, such as from the impact of a mild fall. Not only are these people at risk of developing weak, easy-to-break bones, they also are at risk of developing weak muscles, brittle teeth, a bent spine and hearing loss. The disorder causes these effects by limiting the production of collagen, a protein that strengthens bones.

Paget’s Disease: This disease causes bones to grow too large, which makes them weak and brittle. Larger bones require more calcium and collagen to remain strong, and there will be an insufficient supply in the body. The cause of the disease is unknown. People Paget’s disease often experience pain, broken bones or damaged cartilage in the joints. Men are more likely to have Paget’s disease than women, and typically experience symptoms in their legs, pelvis, skull and spine. It occurs most typically in one or a group of bones, but never over the whole skeleton.

Bone Cancer: Because cancer can occur in the bones, it is considered a bone disease. The three types of bone cancers are Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma. Oseosarcoma starts in the growing bones of young people, mainly ages 10 to 25. Chondrosarcoma is a cancer of the cartilage and doesn’t begin developing until a person has reached age 50. Ewing’s Sarcoma develops in the nerve tissue of the bone marrow. It tends to develop in younger people once chemotherapy treatment for a different type of cancer has occurred.