Osteoporosis--Earlier prevention, the better

Of the 10 million Americans who suffer from osteoporosis, 80% of them are women! Osteoporosis is a serious condition wherein bone mass is lost or not created at all, causing one's bones to become more porous or look like a honeycomb under a microscope. This causes bones to break easily from falls or minor injuries depending on the severity. Osteoporosis affects all bones, and in cases of the vertebrae, patients may even lose height because of a hunched stature. 


Unfortunately, this condition affects post menopausal women more because they have thinner, weaker bones than men. Additionally, estrogen, which is a key hormone that protects bones in women to decreases significantly in post-menopausal women, thereby also contributing to osteoporosis.
Current treatments for osteoporosis include short term hormone replacement therapy, specific medication to reduce fracture and slow bone breakdown, and bone strengthening exercises.
However, the good news is, methods of prevention earlier in one's life can greatly decrease the risks of osteoporosis. Prevention can be from actions as little as exercising regularly to build muscle and bone weight from an earlier age. Additionally, ensuring adequate dietary calcium or taking calcium supplements plus vitamin D starting in young adulthood can help build bones and greatly reduce fractures from osteoporosis. 


Osteoporosis is a severe condition that can lead to extremely painful consequences that are long lasting.  But with simple preventive steps starting today, you can start working on becoming a healthier and stronger version of yourself for the future!


Meghana Pisupati
IHS 2017