What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a medical condition that will affect a greater percentage of the population as the baby boomers age.
What is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that leads to fragile bones, higher risk of bone fractures, specifically hip, spine, and wrist. The disease is typically decreased bone mass and a deterioration of bone tissue, which is actually structural.
- Chronic dull pain in lower back or neck
- Loss of height and stooped posture.
- A curved upper back (dowager's hump).
- Broken bones (fractures) that might occur with a minor injury, especially in the hip, spine, and wrist.
How To Prevent Osteoporosis
Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later. The average woman has acquired 98% of her skeletal mass by age 30.
There are 4 steps to prevent osteoporosis (No one step along is enough to prevent osteoporosis):
- A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
- Weight-bearing exercise
- A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake
- Medication to improve bone density when appropriate.