Osteoporosis Health Center

There are medications that can help prevent fractures. However, vertebrae that have already collapsed cannot be restored. Some people that have osteoporosis become severely disabled as a result of weak bones. About 50 percent of patients with hip fractures cannot walk independently. Although osteoporosis does not affect life expectancy, the condition is one of the major reasons people are admitted to nursing homes.

A series of bone mineral density measurements taken every one to two years can track the response to treatment.

While certain medications can help prevent osteoporosis, there are other ways to prevent this disease, including the following:

• Get enough calcium to maintain healthy bones.
• Get enough vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium.
• Do not drink alcohol in excess.
• Do not smoke.
• Exercise regularly.

Contact a doctor if you have symptoms of osteoporosis or if you want to be screened for it. There are many types of doctors who specialize in treating osteoporosis. These specialists include endocrinologists, rheumatologists, geriatricians and internists, among others.