• Age: Your risk is greater as you get older because your bones become weaker and less dense.
• Women are more likely to get it then men because they have less bone tissue and lose it more rapidly then men do because of menopausal changes. Although, men can still get it.
• It is more likely to develop among caucasian and asian women, but African American and Hispanic women are at risk, too.
• If you are thin or small boned you have a greater risk.
• Either natural or surgical menopause brought on early, or normal menopause increases the risk. And women who have problems with menstruation before menopause have a higher risk.
• Exchessive alcohol use, smoking, little or no weight-bearing exercise and not enough calcium in your diet increases the risk.
• Certain medications and diseases can also increase your risk. Cortisone-like drugs, (even those used in the treatment of asthma), endocrine disorders (overactive thyroid), rheumatoid arthritis and immobilization are some that might increase the risk.
• Heredity can be a factor. If you have a mother who has a history of vertebral fractures, could indicate the risk of reduced bone mass.

• Estrogen has been approved by the FDA for the prevention of osteoporosis. Experts recommended estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for women at high risk for osteoporosis, especially if their ovaries were removed before age 50. It should be considered by women who have have experienced natural menopause and have multiple osteoporosis risk factors, such as an early menopause, a blood relative with osteoporosis, or below normal bone mass on a bone density test. Estrogen use has some risks and should be discussed with your physician.
• Alendronate, a medication from the class of drugs called bisphosphonates, is approved by the FDA in a 5mg dose for the prevention of osteoporosis. In clinical trials, alendronate slowed or stopped bone loss, increased bone density, and reduced fracture risk. Side effects are uncommon but may include irritation of the esophagus, abdominal or musculoskeletal pain, nausea, and heartburn.
• Making sure you get an adequate amount of calcium may help in protecting you against osteoporosis. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet, supplements can be added, but discuss it with your physician. Supplements of Vitamin D may be needed also.
• Exercise can also be helpful in building and maintaining strong bones. Weight bearing exercise such as walking or jogging are best. This also should be discussed with your physician.

• DEXA: Most accurate, most advanced, low radiation, no injection, takes 5-15 minutes to perform, generally reimbursed, measures the hip and spine, the region of fractures with serious consequences.
• DPA: The predecessor to DEXA which uses photons rather than X-RAYS to measure the mineral content of the hip and spine, now in limited use and generally not reimbursed.
• SXA: Single energy X-RAY absorbtiometry to measure the bone density of the wrist and heel. Low radiation dose, low cost and quick but not as accurate for determining density of the spine and hip.
• QCT: Computerized tomography (CT) scanning and can be adapted for this purpose and can be helpful in patients with specific indications. It is not helpful in following progression of the disease or effectiveness of therapy. It is more costly and higher radiation exposure than other procedures.
• RA: Measures bone density of the hands

There is not a blood test or urine test that will diagnose osteoporosis. The above are indirect tests which are helpful to identify those with significantly higher risk for osteoporosis, identify the etiology of bone loss and measure changes in bone metabolism as a result of therapy.