Osteoporosis Articles

Osteoporosis is a serious but preventable disease that can affect both males and females. There are several primary causes of osteoporosis and loss of bone mineral density, including insufficient physical activity, calcium deficiency, and low estrogen levels. Because osteoporosis prevention is much easier than treatment of the disorder, it is important to understand the causes of osteoporosis and to take steps early in life to ensure that the bones have everything needed to remain strong and healthy.

Osteoporosis is often called the silent disease because few people experience symptoms until the disease is advanced. Many people may have no symptoms of osteoporosis at all until they suffer a fractured hip or spine after a simple fall. Because of this, doctors typically recommend anyone at risk of developing this disease to have diagnostic assessments done periodically.

You could say that forty years of osteoporosis prevention is worth a pound of cure, except for just one problem: there is no cure for osteoporosis. It is a chronic illness that affects 55% of women over 50 years of age, and although it is not inherently fatal, it generally leads to death. There are medications and treatments available that can improve the quality of life of an osteoporosis patient, but these treatments can only help so much.

There are many options for the treatment for osteoporosis, a brittle bone disease that afflicts many women after menopause. Women can prevent this disease by habitually eating a balanced diet rich in calcium, and taking a calcium supplement starting early in their lives.