The age-related change that worries me the most is osteoporosis. The bones in our body are living tissues and a process of replacement and resorption is underway. When this process is disrupted such that new bone cannot keep up with the removal of old bone, osteoporosis can occur. Studies tell us that men and women are affected, but post-menopausal Caucasian and Asian women are at greater risk of developing this bone disease. It causes bones to be fragile and weak, so much so that even a small fall can cause a fracture. In more severe cases, this rupture can sometimes occur due to a cough or incorrect bending. Osteoporosis is associated with repeated fractures, painful bones, neck and back pain, decreased height and poor posture. There are many factors that contribute to the development of osteoporosis. These include a calcium deficiency, possibly due to a poor diet, aging and old age, the loss of estrogen that accompanies the onset of menopause in women, as well as genetics. There are many other diseases that contribute to osteoporosis such as Cushing's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. There are 40 million Americans who struggle with this disease, men and women, although women are more likely to develop it due to the loss of estrogen during and post-menopause. The loss of estrogen is an important factor in bone formation. Other factors include family members who have had the disease, smoking, and taking certain medications such as prednisone. There is no known treatment for fibromyalgia, but realizing the predisposition I have to develop osteoporosis due to it, I began taking the necessary steps to prevent this from happening as much as... half of the paper... fined from this chronic condition. I do not take any medications, instead choosing to use supplements and non-invasive therapies. The information on the Internet and in newspaper reviews continues to grow and I continue to learn about treatments and live a positive life. The steps I mentioned above are changes I've already made and plan to make in the very near future. Works Cited Buyukbese, M.A., Pamuk, ON, Yurekli, OA, & Yesil, N.N. (2013). Effect of fibromyalgia on bone mineral density in patients with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 59(2), 106-109. doi:10.4103/0022-3859.113825Osteoporosis. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://nihseniorhealth.gov/osteoporosis/whatisosteoporosis/01.htmlOsteoporosis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/basics/definition/con-20019924