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What is Osteoporosis? It can happen without warning — you bend over to pick up a pencil that has fallen on the floor and feel a searing pain in your side. Later you learn you've fractured a rib. If you're an older woman, your fracture is most likely the result of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, which means leaky bones, causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that even mild stresses like bending over, lifting a vacuum or coughing can cause a fracture. In most cases, bones weaken when you have low levels of calcium, phosphorous and other minerals in your bones. Osteoporosis can also accompany endocrine disorders or result from excessive use of drugs such as corticosteroids. A bone without osteoporosis. A bone with osteoporosis Signs and Symptoms In the early stages of bone loss, you usually have no pain or symptoms. But once bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you may have symptoms that include: · Back pain · Loss of height over time, with an accompanying stooped posture · Fracture of the vertebrae, wrists, hips or other bones Risk factors · If you are female · If you are 50 or older · If you are past menopause · If your ovaries are removed before you are 45 · IF there is not enough calcium in your diet · If you have limited exposure to sunlight or insufficient Vitamin D in your diet · If there is not enough physical · If there is a family history of osteoporosis · If you are small-boned · If you are a smoker · If you have more than 3 cups a day of coffee, tea or any drinks with caffeine · If you consistently drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol a day · If you excess your use of certain medications like cortisone, prednisone, anti-convulsants, thyroid hormone, aluminium containing antacids Prevention There are 4 main steps to prevent osteoporosis.
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