Health Central reports on myths and truths about osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Although osteoporosis is common—around 10 million people over age 50 have it—the condition is still misunderstood. To set the record straight, Alana C. Serota, M.D., internal medicine physician at HSS, shares what many patients get wrong—and what everyone should know— about osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Because the words sound the same, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, wear-and-tear joint damage, often get conflated, Dr. Serota said. However, the conditions are completely unrelated. “One is in the joints and one is in the bones,” she noted. While osteoporosis doesn't hurt unless you break something, osteoarthritis can be quite painful day-to-day. Also, notably, the two conditions have completely different prevention strategies and treatments, so it’s important to read up on both to understand the differences and how each may play a role in your health (or not).

Read the full article at healthcentral.com.