Once maximum height is reached, bone mass continues to increase until age 30. Therefore, it is crucial to develop strong bones by taking regular calcium and vitamin D. Regular exercise is equally important. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging or running are especially helpful. Swimming and bicycling, while excellent cardiovascular exercises, are not weight-bearing and do not protect against osteoporosis. One of the most important medications for treating osteoporosis is estrogen.
Many women are concerned about the risks of long-term estrogen use.
While there is a slight increase in risk of breast and uterine cancer, women who take estrogen have lower rates of heart disease and live longer, healthier lives than those who do not. Moreover, these small risks can be further reduced by annual mammograms and PAP smears, and taking concomitant progesterone. The recently released Fosamax has provided an important new approach to increasing bone mass. Not only is bone mass improved, patients taking Fosamax have fewer fractures and a slower loss of height. The drug calcitonin has only been available by injection until recently The new nasal spray version, Miacalcin, has been shown to decrease pain, increase bone density and reduce loss of height.