Osteoporosis: An Overview
Article Navigation:
- Introduction to Osteoporosis
- Definition of Osteoporosis & Symptoms of Osteoporosis
- Causes of Osteoporosis
- Risks for Osteoporosis
- Diagnosing Osteoporosis
- Treating Osteoporosis
- Preventing Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis and Calcium
- Osteoporosis and Vitamin D
- Exercise and Osteoporosis
- Diet and Osteoporosis
- Natural Treatments
- Osteoporosis in Women
- Caffeine and Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis References
Preventing Osteoporosis
Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis
You can take several important steps to prevent osteoporosis. Many of the same steps are recommended for people who already have osteoporosis to prevent further loss of bone mass. Here are important things you can do to prevent osteoporosis or to prevent further bone loss:[1]
- Take calcium and vitamin D supplements
- Exercise regularly, especially weight-bearing exercise
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Stop smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Limit consumption of high phosphate soft drinks
You may want to consider hormone replacement therapy to prevent osteoporosis, but this method may increase your risk of uterine cancer, blood clots, strokes and abnormal mammograms. Discuss this option with your doctor. Hormone replacement therapy is not used to treat osteoporosis.[4] It is only used as a preventive measure.
This Elder Health Guide was published on October 18, 2009 and was updated on October 18, 2009.
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