Osteoporosis - Understanding key risk factors and therapeutic options

Bone loss throughout life is a normal consequence of aging; however, some p eople are more predisposed to developing osteoporosis and sustaining associ ated fractures than others. But the risk of osteoporosis can be reduced by: (1) maximizing skeletal mass during the growing years, (2) consuming 1,000 to 1,500 mg of calcium per day, (3) participating in lifelong weight-beari ng exercise, and (4) considering pharmacologic intervention at menopause. P harmacologic options include calcium, vitamin D, estrogen, bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and calcitonin. Any such medicatio n should be taken in conjunction with exercise and fall precautions.