Should you have a risk factor, call your doctor and discuss whether you should have an osteoporosis bone mineral density scan. Woman's Hospital Osteoporosis Assessment Center offers a complete range of testing and consultation services. The Facts Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that weakens the bones causing them to become thin and brittle. Osteoporosis is four times more common in women than in men.
Prevention is the key.
Getting plenty of calcium in your diet and exercising helps maintain strong bones. Ask your doctor what risk factors you may have for osteoporosis and what treatments are available to stop bone loss. Calcium is necessary for strong bones and is part of what's necessary to prevent osteoporosis. If your diet has too little calcium, your body will steal it from your bones. It is best to get your daily calcium through the food you eat.