Definition of osteoporosis- It is a medical condition in which the bone density decreases leading to a decrease in the bone mass. This leads to weak and fragile bones which are prone to fracture. When bones that are suffering from osteoporosis are examined, they show a porous appearance on the inside, with large holes.

Patients are more at a risk of developing osteoporosis as they get older. Also people who are small and thin, have a history of osteoporosis in the family, are taking certain medications or are suffering from osteopenia (low bone mass) are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis.

Symptoms-

• Osteoporosis can be asymptomatic for years with symptoms appearing only when the person fractures a bone.
• In the later years, they can cause dull pains in the bones or in the back particularly in the upper part such as the lower back and the neck.
• As the disease progresses, the person may experience a sharp or radiating pain in the bones and the pain aggravates when a person applies pressure on it or on movements. This can cause tenderness in the affected areas with lingering pain that lasts for months.

Medical treatments can control the disease and in most cases may even ameliorate the symptoms. Besides this, adhering to certain habits and diets can also help to manage this disease better. Some of the most common management tools are

• Supplements – the main cause of decrease in density of bones is calcium deficiency.  Certain food supplements can help manage the deficiency of the calcium better by compensating for the loss of calcium and enhancing calcium absorption by the body. Some of the most common supplements are –
• Vitamin D- this vitamin can be derived from calcium and by exposure to suns rays. It helps regulate the level of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. One of the most vital functions of vitamin D is to absorb calcium from food and supplements. If the person has plenty of calcium, but deficient in vitamin D, they can still suffer from calcium deficiency. If there is lack of calcium in the blood, the body starts utilizing the calcium from the bones which leads to osteoporosis. Some of the most natural sources of vitamin D are catfish, salmon and tuna.
• Vitamin C – this vitamin helps to build collagen which binds the bones together. Citrus fruits are rich in the vitamin C.
• Folic Acid- women who are suffering from menopause are at a high risk of suffering from osteoporosis. These women have high homocysteine levels which occur due to breakdown of essential amino acids. Studies have shown that a diet that is rich in folic acid and Vitamin B6 reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
• Calcium- Calcium is required by the bone not only to increase the density by also to felicitate calcium absorption. Usually the supplement given in such cases is calcium carbonate.
• Magnesium- this mineral aids metabolism of calcium and vitamin C and helps in conversion of vitamin D to the active form so that it can efficiently absorb calcium in the body.
• Exercises- Weight bearing exercises such as brisk walking, running, tennis, badminton and rope skipping can also help increase the density of the bones.

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