Prevention of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition where the bone loses its density. It can be called as a thinning of bones in a layman’s term. As a result, the skeleton becomes weak and the person is susceptible to frequent fractures particularly at the wrist, hips and spine.

Risk Factors: Normally females, particularly post menopausal females develop this disease. The bone density is greatly reduced with the drop in the level of the female hormone estrogen. But osteoporosis can occur in men as well. Anyone with hormonal disorders or chronic underlying disease may develop this debilitating disease. Apart from the gender, certain factors like genetic history, calcium and Vitamin D deficiency as well as low body weight are the risk factors that need to be taken into consideration for osteoporosis. As the disease has no obvious symptoms, people within the risk zone must take care to prevent the painful and largely irreversible effects of this degenerative disease.

Prevention: In order to prevent osteoporosis physical exercise is an absolute must. Mild exercise like walking can help keep this disease at bay. Vigorous physical exercise which weakens the fragile bones must be avoided. Patients of osteoporosis having heart diseases, hypertension or diabetes must have their exercises monitored and approved by their physicians.

Smoking alone contributes up to 10% loss in bone mass. It can also lead to early menopause which in turn hastens osteoporosis in women. Reducing cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis to a certain extent.

A healthy, balanced diet with regular supplements of calcium and Vitamin D is needed for the treatment as well as prevention of osteoporosis. Doctors often prescribe drugs like Alendronate, Raloxifene, Ibandronate and Calcitonin for preventing bone loss and improving the strength of the bone. Taking Teriparatide can actually facilitate bone formation.

In case of elderly women, the Hormone Replacement Therapy can work wonders as far as increasing bone density and preventing bone loss is concerned. But to undergo such a therapy it is necessary for each patient to take individual medical advice on the benefits and risks involved.