or surgically induced menopause or abnormal or absence of menstrual periods are at greater riskchemotherapy that can cause early menopause due to its toxic effects on the ovaries eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa low amounts of calcium in the diet heavy alcohol consumption inactive lifestyle cigarette smoking certain medications can cause osteoporosis these include longterm use of heparin a blood thinner antiseizure medications such as phenytoin and longterm use of oral corticosteroids such as prednisone rheumatoid arthritis itself is a risk factor for osteoporosisprevention there are four steps to prevent osteoporosis no one step alone is enough to prevent osteoporosis eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin d engage in weightbearing exercise adopt a healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake take medication to improve bone density when appropriateexams and tests a routine xray can reveal osteoporosis of the bone because the bones appear much thinner and lighter than normal bones the dxa dualenergy xray absorptiometry measures the bone density of the spine hip or total body with your clothes on you simply lie on your back with your legs on a large block the xray machine moves quickly over your lower spine and hip area several different machines measure bone density all are painless noninvasive and safe they are becoming more readily available the bone density of the patient is compared to the average peak bone density of young adults of the same sex and race this score is called the t score and it expresses the bone density in terms of the number of standard deviations sd below peak young adult bone mass osteoporosis is defined as a bone density t score of 25 or below osteopenia between normal and osteoporosis is defined as bone density t score between 1 and 25a d pawar hod orthopedic dept gmchwhat is the treatment for osteoporosis and can it be prevented the goal of treatment of osteoporosis is the prevention of bone fractures by reducing bone loss or preferably by increasing bone density and strength although early detection and timely treatment of osteoporosis can substantially decrease the risk of future fractures none of the available treatments for osteoporosis are complete cures in other words it is difficult to completely rebuild bone that has been weakened by osteoporosis therefore prevention of osteoporosis is as important as treatment exercise quitting cigarettes balanced diet and curtailing alcohol exercise has a wide variety of beneficial health effects however exercise does not bring about substantial increases in bone density the benefit of exercise for osteoporosis has mostly to do with decreasing the risk of falls probably because balance is improved andor muscle strength is increased most doctors recommend weightbearing exercise such as walking preferably daily about exercise it is important to avoid exercises that can injure already weakened bones in patients over 40 and those with heart disease obesity diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure exercise should be prescribed and monitored