Prevention of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a common disease affecting many Canadians. There is increasing comprehension of the pathophysiology of osteoporosis, and this is leading to the development of a promising form of therapy for established osteoporosis. The most cost-effective approach to osteoporosis, however, is prevention. Certain risk factors for the development of osteoporosis have been established. While the development of practical methods for measuring bone density represents a major advance, at present these methods cannot be advocated for widespread screening programs. The emphasis on prevention has focused on modification of estrogen status, calcium intake and activity pattern. There are a number of commonsense measures that physicians can suggest to patients for the prevention of osteoporosis.