Osteoporosis

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Bone-building exercise	Bone density scan	Calcium benefit	Calcium source
Changes in spine with age	Hip fracture	Osteoporosis	Osteoporosis
Vitamin D source

Any exercise that presents a risk of falling should be avoided!

DIET

A diet that includes an adequate amount of calcium, vitamin D, and protein should be maintained. While this will not completely stop bone loss, it will guarantee that a supply of the materials the body uses for bone formation and maintenance is available.

Supplemental calcium should be taken as needed to achieve recommended daily calcium dietary intake. Current recommendations are for nonpregnant, menstruating women to consume 1000 mg/day, pregnant women need 1200 mg/day, and postmenopausal or nursing mothers should consume 1500 mg/day.

High-calcium foods include low-fat milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese, tofu, salmon and sardines (with the bones), and leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and collard greens. Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption and 400-800 IU per day should be taken by all individuals with increased risk of calcium deficiency and osteoporosis.

STOP UNHEALTHY HABITS

Quit smoking, if you smoke. Also limit alcohol intake. Too much alcohol can damage your bones, as well as put you at risk for falling and breaking a bone.

PREVENT FALLS

It is critical to prevent falls. Make sure your vision is good, avoid sedating medications, and remove household hazards to reduce the risk of fractures. Other ways to prevent falling include wearing good-fitting shoes, avoiding walking alone on icy days, and using bars in the bathtub, when needed.

MONITORING

Your response to treatment can be monitored with a series of bone mineral density measurements taken every 1-2 years, though such monitoring is controversial and expensive. In the future, less elaborate measurements of bone turnover may become available for following the course of osteoporosis.

Women taking estrogen should have routine mammograms, pelvic exams, and Pap smears.

RELATED SURGERIES

There are no surgeries for treating osteoporosis itself. However, a procedure called vertebroplasty can be used to treat any small fractures in your spinal column due to osteoporosis. It can also help prevent weak vertebra from becoming fractured by strengthening the bones in your spinal column.