Definition/Description

When osteoporosis has made your bones weak, the chances are higher that they’ll crack or break, even the bones of your spine. These spine fractures, also called vertebral compression fractures, can cause severe back pain that makes it hard to stand, walk, sit, or lift objects.

The best way to prevent these fractures is to keep your bones as strong as possible by treating or preventing osteoporosis.

Symptoms/Characteristics

Osteoporosis often has no symptoms. The first sign that you may have it is when you break a bone in a relatively minor fall or accident (known as a low-impact fracture). Fractures are most likely in the hip, spine or wrist.

Causes

Poor diet - If your diet doesn’t include enough calcium or vitamin D, or if you're very underweight, you'll be at greater risk of osteoporosis.
Lack of exercise - Exercise encourages bone development, and lack of exercise means you'll be more at risk of losing calcium from the bones and so developing osteoporosis.

Treatment

Diet and nutrition

It is important for patients with osteoporosis to receive adequate calcium and vitamin D through a healthy, balanced diet.

Calcium rich food include

Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt

Beans and chick peas

Some nuts, seeds and dried fruits.

Leafy green vegetables such as cabbage, kale, broccoli

Vitamin D
Adequate vitamin D intake is necessary for the body to absorb calcium. Because high levels of vitamin D are not found in many foods, supplements may be advised. The amount of supplemental vitamin D recommended may vary from one osteoporosis patient to another depending on their dietary needs.

Exercise

Regular exercise is important to help maintain bone density and provide overall muscle strengthening that can reduce the risk of falls. Weight-bearing exercise and muscle strengthening are especially important for bone health and fall prevention.exercises that may be recommended for osteoporosis patients include:

Walking

Yoga

Jogging

Climbing stairs