Osteoporosis is the progressive loss of bone mass that causes bones to become fragile and prone to fracture.

There are several types of Osteoporosis: The menopausal, senility, and that caused by the continued use of some drugs. Among these the most common are affecting millions of women over 45 years worldwide.

There are some risk factors that predispose or increase the risk in women after menopause: These factors are:

* Deficit of calcium in the diet.
* Sedentary lifestyle.
* Constitution thin.
* Use of certain drugs such as corticosteroids and excessive thyroid hormone.
* Early menopause.
* Drinking too much alcohol, coffee and cigarettes

Osteoporosis has no symptoms at first due to the slow decline in bone density and unfortunately one of the first symptoms appears to be a fracture.

Are frequent bone fractures, wrist, head of the femur and vertebral collapse, osteoporosis than do very slow recovery?

In case of fracture diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on the combination of symptoms, additional studies may be needed to rule out treatable diseases that may cause osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis can be diagnosed before a fracture occurs through tests that measure bone density, the more accurate the bone densitometry.

Preventing osteoporosis is more effective than treatment and is to maintain or increase bone density by consuming adequate amounts of calcium, the practice of exercises in which body-weight-bearing and, in some cases the drug administration. Estrogens tend to maintain bone density in women. The estrogen replacement therapy or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) are best known, is most effective if started within the first 4 to 6 years of menopause, but may slow bone loss and reduce the risk fracture even when you later.

The goal is to increase bone density. All women especially those with osteoporosis should take calcium and vitamin D.