Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by weak, brittle bones that are prone to fractures. For those with osteoporosis, a mild stress like coughing can be enough to cause a fracture. Fractures can affect any of the bones in your body, but typically affect the spine, hip or wrist.
Development of Osteoporosis
Your body continuously breaks down and regenerates bone over the course of your life. Old bone gets broken down and removed from the body and new bone is made to take its place. To create bone, the body needs adequate amounts of the nutrients calcium and vitamin D. Because the most rapid period of bone development occurs between the ages of 10 and 20, these nutrients are especially important during these years. If you have insufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D in the body, the new bones that form are brittle and lack density. Over time, this leads to weak bones that are more prone to fractures.
Calcium
Approximately 99 percent of the calcium in your body is located in your bones, according to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake. Calcium is the most important mineral in building bone structure and keeping your bones strong. Because your body loses some calcium every day, it is important to make sure that you are consuming enough calcium on a daily basis to prevent bone loss. Recommendations for calcium are based on age and sex. Young men and women between the ages of 9 and 18 should aim to consume at least 1,300 mg of calcium per day. Adults between the ages of 19 and 50 should consume at least 1,000 mg per day. Adults over the age of 50 should aim for at least 1,200 mg per day.
Vitamin D
The body relies on vitamin D to transport calcium to your bones. Without this nutrient, the calcium in your body remains in your bloodstream and cannot be used to build strong bones. Your body can synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, but because amounts may differ, you should also consume vitamin D through your diet. Recommendations for vitamin D range from 200 to 600 international units, or IU, per day.
Considerations
Although proper diet and getting enough calcium and vitamin D during periods of growth can help prevent the development of osteoporosis, it cannot treat osteoporosis once it has developed. Most people with osteoporosis require the use of medication or a combination of medications.
Treatment
One of the most popular classes of medications for osteoporosis is bisphosphonates, which can help slow down bone loss, inhibit the breakdown of bone and increase bone density in the hip and spine, according to MayoClinic.com. Other available medications include raloxifene, calcitonin and teriparatide. If medications are not enough, hormone therapy may be used in an attempt to increase bone mass. Hormone therapy increases the risk of developing blood clots, however.
