If you are 45 or older, there is a chance you may have osteoporosis and not know it; this is a silent disease. That is why we recommend you have constant medical check-ups. Can you imagine not being able to enjoy a free and full life again? No! Especially if you know that there are new treatments against osteoporosis, which can help keep your bones strong for many years.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that turns healthy bones into weak bones, which are more likely to fracture. Since there are no symptoms, you may not know that your bones are getting weaker until you break one!

A fractured bone can significantly affect a woman’s life. It can cause disability, pain and loss of independence. It can make daily activities, such as walking, harder to perform without help. This can get in the way of participating in social events. It can also cause severe pain and back deformation.

Osteoporosis can affect any bone, but it happens more frequently in the hip, wrist, and backbone, also called vertebral column.

How is osteoporosis produced?

Osteoporosis happens when the body is not able to form enough new bone, or when a large part of the old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both. There is a broad variety of factors that may help cause this disease, among which we can find the following:

Aging: As years go by, the body produces less bone, and it gets harder to replace.

Heredity: A family history of fractures can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Heredity can also explain why some people develop osteoporosis at an early age.

Diet and lifestyle: An improper diet, low in calcium and high in fat; a sedentary lifestyle, have been linked to osteoporosis, as smoking and excess alcohol intake.

Drugs and other diseases: Osteoporosis has been related to some drugs, including steroids, and to other diseases.

How can I know if I have weak bones?

There are bone density tests, which measure the amount of minerals in the bones. One test is called DEXA (double energy X-ray absorptiometry), which takes X-rays of your bones. Talk to your doctor about the best test for you.

How is osteoporosis treated?

The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. A proper diet, high in vitamins and calcium, as well as constant exercise, can help increase bone density, which will reflect in a lower risk of fractures in later years. Calcium and vitamin D supplements are recommended if intake of these substances from diet is not enough.

Also, there are currently very effective treatments that help improve bone density, reduce the risk of fractures, and allow for better quality of life.

Among them, Bonviva® is the first and only treatment for osteoporosis with only one tablet a month, which reduces the risk of fractures, with dosing that provides more freedom and sheer enjoyment of your life.