Even though osteoporosis is often thought of as a disease that only affects older people, it can strike at any age. One in two women over the age of 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture. A family medical history and bone mass measurements are part of a complete assessment. Often a bone fracture is the first sign of osteoporosis. Ask your doctor to help you better understand your own risk and become aware of prevention and treatment options.
Osteoporosis is usually preventable.
Females need to take steps to protect the health of their bones while they are still children, and on through their teenage and young adult years. Building strong bones at a young age will lessen the effect of natural bone loss. This can be accomplished by eating foods high in calcium, or by taking supplements. Vitamin D plays a major role in calcium absorption, so you should also increase your intake of this vitamin after menopause. Hormone replacement therapy, or estrogen taken after menopause to replace that which is no longer being made by the ovaries, can also help prevent osteoporosis.