The advances in medicine and nutrition science have allowed humans to have longer and more fulfilling lives. However, as our age catches up with our bodies, atrophy begins and there are a lot of changes that the normal body experiences. There are many different problems that a human body experiences due to ageing.


Osteoporosis is one such disorder in which the human body experiences a loss of bone material. The bones begin to deteriorate because of which they may become brittle. After a period of time, the bones become so delicate that even a slight fall can break them.




In a recently performed study, it has been seen that a majority of men and women who have lived through 85 years of age, have had at least one osteoporosis related accident, and broken bones as a result. Out of the 50% of people who were interviewed for this research, 25% had experienced spinal abnormalities because of which their bodies became misshapen and 15% fractured their hip because of which they were not able to move around for a long time.

At this age, losing mobility and becoming dependent on others for basic needs, can be a very challenging task culturally. Fortunately, there are measures that can be taken to delay the decay and disintegration of bones in the human body. However, for this to happen, it is important to have an early diagnosis of osteoporosis. For men and women who have been consuming the appropriate amount of calcium all their lives, the bones are strong enough to weather the onslaught of ageing for the first few years after they have reached their sixties.

However, it is recommended that after the age of fifty five, men and women should get themselves checked up regularly and make at least one visit to their orthopedic doctor every two years. The doctor measure bone density and detect any abnormalities in the bone structure. If there is loss of bone material, additional supplements can be given to the patient to make sure that the demineralization of the bones is slowed down and that the bones may remain healthy for a longer time.

There is also a new class of drugs, known as bisphosphonates, which have proven to be very effective in the face of decreasing bone density due to osteoporosis. However, to administer this drug effectively, timely identification of the symptoms and screening of osteoporosis is extremely important.