Osteoporosis can be described as a condition where the bones of an individual become thin and weak, leading to easy breaks of the bones. As there are no warning signs, it usually goes undiagnosed until a fracture eventually occurs, with the hip, wrist and spine especially vulnerable.

Some individuals are at a higher risk than others for getting osteoporosis. A good rule of thumb to know if a person is at risk is when an individual is able to answer yes to two or more of these questions: if a woman, have you had the menopause and if so, was it before the age of forty-five; if the person has had an eating disorder that has been sever enough to disrupt periods; any spontaneous fractures in the past; x-rays suggesting thinning of the bones; lost height in the last decade; on steroids for a longer period than six months; family history of the condition; any chronic illnesses; been immobile for any reason; and smoking or drinking a lot.

Once diagnosed with osteoporosis, a number of treatments are available. These include vitamin D and calcium supplements; hormone treatments including HRT and bisphosphonates (drugs that prevent bone breakdown).

Osteoporosis

Once a person nears or reaches middle age, preventative action is often very helpful for staving off the condition. This includes increasing calcium in the diet, increasing weight-bearing exercise, quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol intake.