Many people have heard all about osteoporosis but have little knowledge as to what exactly it is or what it involves. It is a condition that can cause bones to be brittle and prone to breaks and fractures. As the years pass, it is more and more important all people, but especially women, take precautions to make sure that they do not suffer excessive bone loss. Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones and makes them weak and brittle. This disease, ideally will be diagnosed before the person suffers a fall and bone fracture. Severe back pain and bone pain are usually the first symptoms. Bad back pain, that is a result of compression fractures on the spine, can be a symptom of Osteoporosis. There are many other possible symptoms.

While men may develop this condition, it is more common in women. After a woman suffers menopause they tend to lose estrogen. As a result, their bones lose a lot of their density and can become quite brittle.

If left untreated for long enough, Osteoporosis will lead to a person becoming very fragile to the point that a simple sneeze can cause the person to suffer a fracture. This can also lead to a person breaking their hip and becoming disabled, since bones do not heal when a person has osteoporosis.

The exact cause of bone loss due to menopause, is still a little bit of a mystery, but there are a number of risk factors that will increase your odds of having to deal with osteoporosis. Post menopause, poor diet, obesity, aging, and family history, are just a few of the things that tend to increase a person’s risk of suffering from osteoporosis.

Whether you are treating it, or trying to prevent it, the key is exercise. This, along with a nutritious diet and plenty of calcium, will help in treating this disease and preventing it. Remember, you can help to reduce your chances of developing this condition if you are at risk, or fear you may be at risk.

Whether you have osteoporosis or want to prevent it, the keys to healthy bones are regular exercise, balanced diet, and sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D. If you learn that you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, your doctor can offer medications to reduce bone loss and the risk of fracture, but you will still need to supplement your prescription with a proper diet and plenty of exercise.