Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones of our body become brittle due to lesser bone density. Osteoporosis does not have a complete cure, but nowadays there are different forms of treatment that help prevent fractures and increase bone density. Basically, osteoporosis has medication that helps in two ways: they lessen bone breakdown through anti-reabsorption agents and also stimulate the formation of new bone through anabolic agents. This medication should be taken continuously to get its full benefits, as bone loss resumes once the medications are stopped. Calcium, exercise and vitamin D are important first steps for maintaining healthy bones for any age. Take calcium and vitamin D supplements, as they are needed for osteoporosis treatment. It is important to take supplements of vitamin D and calcium together, as this increases calcium absorption in the bones. Regular exercise also increases bone density and muscle mass in the body. The best forms of exercise are aerobics, jogging, weightlifting and resistance training. Another important form of treatment for osteoporosis is hormone replacement therapy, where drugs are used to restore estrogen and progesterone levels that are lost due to menopause. However, it should be remembered that long-term use of HRT is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Calcitonin is another hormone that breaks down a bone; its supplements are injected for treatment of osteoporosis. Biphosphates are injected as a treatment to decrease the effects of osteoclasts, which leads to less bone breaking down, without a decrease in bone density. This is ideally taken daily, once a week or once monthly. Those past menopause who do not take HRT take an oral medication of Raloxifene, which acts like estrogen in some parts of the body without actually causing a general estrogen effect. |
