Information on Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones weak, brittle and easily breakable. The first sign you have the disease could be when you break a bone. Something as simple as bending over or coughing could cause a fracture. Osteoporosis is most common in older women.

Symptoms

• There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of osteoporosis, but once the disease progresses symptoms increase to include bone fractures, back pain, loss of height and posture that becomes stooped.

Risk Factors

• Risk factors for osteoporosis include low bone mass, a family history of the disease and being small and thin. White and Asian women have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Diagnosis

• Osteoporosis is diagnosed by testing the hips, spine and other areas of the body for bone mineral density (BMD). The test is quick, painless and similar to an X-ray but with less radiation.

Treatment

• Osteoporosis patients need to increase their intake of calcium and vitamin D and get more exercise. Drugs such as Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva are used to treat or prevent osteoporosis.

Prevention

• To prevent osteoporosis try limiting caffeine, adding soy to the diet and exercising. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, but increase calcium and vitamin D consumption.