What is Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis?

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones weak and more likely to break. People with osteoporosis most often break bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis is called the "silent disease" because bone is lost with no symptoms. You may not know you have osteoporosis until a strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break.

There is no cure for osteoporosis, but there are ways to prevent and treat the disease. They include:

• A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• Daily exercise
• Medicines

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis affects the joints and nearby tissues. Joints are places in the body where bones meet, such as the elbows and knees. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that causes pain in the hips, knees, neck, back, or hands. Being overweight, playing sports, and overusing joints in other ways can hurt them and lead to OA. With time, the cushions on the ends of the bones in the joint get thin or wear off, and the bones can rub against each other.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that strikes joints in the hands and feet. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body attacks its own healthy tissues. This damages the lining of joints and causes pain, swelling, and stiffness.