Know the facts	Know your risk factors	Prevention
Know Your Bone Status	Talk to Your Doctor	Additional Resources

Osteoporosis: Prevention

It is never too early or too late to start your prevention program. Osteoporosis is largely preventable for most people. Prevention of this disease is very important because, while there are treatments for osteoporosis, there is currently no cure.

Four Steps to Prevent Osteoporosis

By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass. Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later. A healthy lifestyle can be critically important for keeping bones strong. There are four steps to prevent osteoporosis. No one step alone is enough to prevent osteoporosis but all four may. They are:

1. A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D;
2. Weight-bearing exercise;
3. A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake;
4. Bone density testing and medication when appropriate.

• Calcium
• Calcium Supplements
• Vitamin D
• Exercise for Healthy Bones
• Medications to Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis
• Fall Prevention