One of every two American women and one in four men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, increasing the risk for painful and debilitating fractures that can occur from even mild stresses, such as bending over or coughing.

Although many factors contribute to bone loss, the leading cause in women is decreased estrogen production during menopause.

Symptoms
The condition’s early stages have no symptoms. However, as osteoporosis progresses, symptoms may include:

• Back pain, caused by fractured or collapsed vertebra
• Loss of height and stooped posture
• Fractures of the vertebrae, wrists, or hips

Diagnosis and Treatment
Although a fracture is often the first symptom, a bone mineral density (BMD) test can diagnose the problem before a break occurs.

BMD tests measure bone density in various sites of the body. Experts recommend BMD tests that use a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

This test can determine if:

• A person has low bone density before a fracture occurs
• A person’s bones are losing density or staying the same when the test is repeated
• Treatment is needed

Prevention
Building strong bones, especially before age 30, can help prevent osteoporosis. After that, maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the following ways can help keep bones strong:

• Exercise regularly. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking for 30 to 60 minutes or gentle weight training most days of the week, can help maintain and build bone density.
• Consume enough calcium and vitamin D.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking inhibits calcium absorption.

For more information, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation at www.nof.org.

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