Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is the loss of bone density and the thinning of bone tissue that
occurs due to aging.
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease. Approximately 20% of women
over the age of 50 have osteoporosis in America. Half of all women over 50
will have a fracture. These fractures are most commonly located in the
spine, wrist or hip.
As the body ages, the body stops producing enough bone to replace the bone which
is absorbed by the body.
The body requires both calcium and phosphate to develop new bone. The
minerals are essential for bone health. The body can rob the bone tissue
of these necessary minerals, and if you don't replace the minerals with
supplements, your bones will become fragile. This may take years and you
may not realize it until a facture has occurred.
Tests can be done to check the density of the bone.
Your doctor may prescribe bisphosphonates to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
These are oral medications and often they will ask you to take calcium and
vitamin D supplements along with the bisphosphonates.
Hormone replacement therapies may be used to reduce the risks of bone fractures
and heart disease in postmenopausal women. They are not used in women who
already have osteoporosis.
Exercise can help reduce the risk of bone fractures caused by osteoporosis.
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