Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens the bones, making them more likely to break. It has no obvious symptoms early on and is often diagnosed only after a minor fall causes a bone to break. Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, medicines and lifestyle changes can prevent, slow, or stop its progress.
Osteoporosis is primarily caused by the natural aging process. For most people, your body replenishes bone faster than it’s broken down until you get into your 30s. Then that balance reverses, and you begin to lose bone faster than you can make it. That process accelerates with menopause in women. As the structure of bone becomes more porous, the bones become weak and brittle.
Building lots of strong bones when you’re young can help off-set bone loss as you age. To protect your bones at any age:
Excessive intake of some food components have been associated with lowering calcium levels, which can interfere with bone production. These include the following:
Caffeine may have a slight impact on bone loss, as well. Drinking soda is linked to bone loss, possibly due to the caffeine and phosphorous content, or because it’s associated with generally poor eating habits.
The goal of osteoporosis treatments such as prescription drugs is to increase bone density. However, minimizing bone loss through proper nutrition and weight-bearing exercise plays an equally important role in keeping your bones healthy.
The answer varies depending on how you answer certain questions. Factors you and your doctor should consider include your sex, age, overall health, how much bone you’ve lost, what type of medications you prefer (injection, infusion, pill, etc.), and drug side effects. Your custom treatment regimen should consider all aspects of your health.
A genetic predisposition for osteoporosis can run in families. Numerous genes can increase your potential for developing osteoporosis, including those that determine your peak bone mass. Ethnicity plays a role, as well. For example, Black people tend to have a higher bone mass, followed by Hispanic people, then White and Asian people. However, individual variations exist.
Bone disease comes in many forms, including:
Bone diseases can cause deformity, disability, and weak bones that break easily. While not all bone disease is preventable, you can lower your odds of common bone diseases by eating a healthy diet, staying active, maintaining a good weight, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco.
Calcium is a mineral that’s important for building healthy teeth and bones. You get calcium from foods, including:
You can also take calcium supplements, but it’s considered best to get your calcium through your diet.
Osteomalacia is a medical condition that is characterized by soft bones. Symptoms can include pain, mobility limitations, and bones that break easily. It occurs when new bone materials are formed without the proper minerals to make them strong. Osteomalacia can be caused by:
In osteoporosis, bones become thinner over time. Explore this interactive model that shows how the condition can cause a loss of density in a bone such as the femur, making it more fragile.
National Osteoporosis Foundation. Treatment for osteoporosis. Updated December 17, 2019.