title: Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: considerations in prevention and treatment: (women's health series).
abstract: Osteoporosis, the most common human bone disease, affects 8 million American women and has significant morbidity and mortality. Screening is important in older women and younger postmenopausal women with additional risk factors for osteoporosis/fracture. Preventive measures include avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol/caffeine intake, and falls in addition to maintaining adequate calcium/vitamin D intake and exercise. Estrogen/hormone therapy may be considered in some patients. Various medications have proven efficacy in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis; however, potential adverse effects such as hypocalcemia, worsening of renal impairment, and osteonecrosis of the jaw must be considered. The optimal duration of therapy requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: From the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, and the Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Geraci
mesh_terms: D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior