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Osteoporosis FAQs
Preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis starts with educating yourself about the condition and learning what you can do that may help reduce bone loss. Browse our Q&A section below to find answers to our most frequently asked questions about postmenopausal osteoporosis. If you still have questions about postmenopausal osteoporosis after reviewing the information on this site please consult with your health care professional.
How do I know if I should be tested for osteoporosis?
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density testing for the following groups of women:
- Women over the age of 65
- Postmenopausal women under 65 with one or more risk factors, which include (but are not limited to) being female; older age; self or family history of osteoporosis or broken bones; being small and thin; certain races/ethnicities; low sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone, etc); diet (low calcium and vitamin D intake; excessive intake of protein, sodium, and caffeine); inactive lifestyle; smoking; alcohol abuse; and certain medications, diseases, and conditions
- Women who have had previous fractures as adults
What kind of exercise is best for keeping bones healthy?
Weight-bearing exercises, in which bones work against gravity, are the best for keeping bones healthy. These exercises will help to increase or maintain bone mass by adding calcium to your skeleton. Suggested exercises include weight training, stair climbing, walking, running, jogging, dancing, aerobics, racquet sports, court sports, and field sports. For most people with osteoporosis, walking is the best exercise.
Consult with your doctor or another health care professional before starting or changing any exercise routine.
What are some of the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Unfortunately, there are usually no warning signs that you have osteoporosis. The first symptom may be a bone fracture, loss of height, or curvature of your spine. Often, women will feel a sudden pain in the hip, neck, or back. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Why do women get osteoporosis so much more often than men?
Women generally have lighter bones, and therefore less bone mass, than men. Many women are also less physically active than men and may have consumed less calcium during their early years. The primary reason that women are more likely to develop osteoporosis is the presence of low estrogen levels after menopause. Estrogen deficiency causes loss of bone mass, especially in the first 5 to 7 years after menopause. Men lose bone in a similar way when testosterone levels decline. But testosterone decline is a very gradual process, compared with the sudden and dramatic decline of estrogen in women of similar age. This is why so many more women develop osteoporosis. Bone loss is much more rapid in women, and it occurs at a much earlier age.
