According to the U.S. News & World Report Health Center, "Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. It literally means porous bone", "results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength. "Osteoporosis debilitates millions of people every year, but there is good news - prevention is possible!

The skeletal structure of the body provides support for our muscles and vital protection for our bodies, our bones are also a source of calcium and other minerals. More than 99 percent of the body's calcium is stored in bones and teeth, the other 1 percent travels through our body in our blood. Calcium is vital for heart and muscle function.

Our skeletons are made of a smooth, hard outer dense bone, a spongy middle section and a soft core of marrow, where new cells are made for the reconstruction of the bones. Our bones are constantly changing because our bodies depend on a constant supply of calcium to function properly. When you do not get enough calcium from the regular diet our bodies break down and rebuild bone to meet our needs. This is called bone remodeling. "

Many things can influence bone remodeling, such as injuries, illnesses, medications, exercise, diet, hormonal changes, smoking, excessive drinking and of course the normal aging process. When the body needs more calcium than they are able to consume, or if we are unable to store calcium is leached properly consume the spongy layer of half of our bones. They gradually lose their density making them weak and porous, and more prone to fractures. This is osteoporosis.

Most of our bone mass is established before the age of 30, and after about 35 years old, as part of normal aging, our bodies begin to detail our bone faster than they are able to reconstruct . The natural decline in hormone production is another contributing factor. When women reach menopause and their ovaries stop producing estrogen and bone loss accelerates. In males, the reduction of testosterone, the hormone also stimulates bone loss.

There is no cure for osteoporosis, so disease prevention is vital to maintaining bone density. There are three key areas to consider when it comes to preventing osteoporosis: diet, lifestyle and medications.

To maintain strong healthy bones a diet sufficient in calcium and vitamin D are important from preadolescence and adulthood. Calcium needs are greater in older adults, whose bodies can no longer rebuild bone mass. Recent studies suggest that bone fractures can be reduced by 30-50% in individuals with low dietary calcium simply by adding calcium and vitamin D.

Some simple lifestyle changes can also affect our risk of osteoporosis. Smoking, low body weight and lack of exercise are factors that contribute to raising our susceptibility to disease. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, dancing and weight training helps increase bone density, keep muscles flexible and ensure better physical balance in people of all ages. Exercise also helps regulate body weight at a healthy level. A direct relationship between the consumption of snuff and a lower bone density to stop smoking is also recommended.

The use of medications can and should play an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D as mentioned above have been associated with bisphosphonates such as alendronate and risedronate, the selective modulators of estrogen receptor (SERMs) such as raloxifene, and hormone replacement of estrogen and testosterone. All medicines have some side effects and these are best discussed with your doctor.

Although there is no known cure for osteoporosis there is hope and help in preventing this common and often debilitating disease of the elderly. By starting now and working to prevent loss of bone density that have a stronger, healthier future.