osteoporosis

• Etiology: Age related osteoporosis, but many factors play a role in the cause. Most common type of osteoporosis occurs in postmenopausal and estrogen deficient women. 
• Symptoms: Early signs include compression, fractures of the spine, and pathologic wrist fractures.
• Compression: A type of fracture in which the bone appears to be mashed down on itself.
• Dowager’s hump: abnormal curvature in the upper thoracic spine. 
• Diagnosis: Can be confirmed by clinical examination, X-rays, CT scans, and bone densitometry.
• Treatment: Currently no treatment to reverse osteoporosis, but it can be slowed bone mass levels can be maintained with therapies.
• Medications like Fosamax (alendronate), Actonel (risedronate), Boniva (ibandronate), and Reclast (Zoledronate) aid in preventing fractures. 
• Prevention: The best preventive measure against osteoporosis would be to keep bone mass healthy. This includes no smoking, exercising daily, eating balanced meals, and limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption.