Osteoporosis is a serious health condition where the bones weaken and become brittle. In severe cases, something simple like a sneeze or cough can cause a fracture.

There are some things that you can do, however, to strengthen your bones and keep osteoporosis at bay.

Who Is at Risk to Develop Osteoporosis?

Your bone tissue is being broken down constantly and replaced by new bone tissue. However, this process slows with age, making aging a high-risk factor in the development of osteoporosis. Other risk factors that you cannot control are gender — women are at a much higher risk than men, race — people of Asian or Caucasian descent are more likely to develop osteoporosis and a having a family history of osteoporosis, as cited by the Mayo Clinic. Other factors that can contribute to the development of osteoporosis are long-term steroid use, low calcium intake, a history of eating disorders, a sedentary lifestyle, use of tobacco and excessive intake of alcohol.

Best Osteoporosis Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no one best treatment for osteoporosis that works for everyone. You and your doctor will come up with a plan that is most likely to help you. You may try different approaches at once that include various medications and lifestyle changes that include modifications to your diet and increasing exercise. Treatment recommendations are often based on an estimate of how likely you are to break a bone in the next 10 years using diagnostic imagery from a bone density exam, according to the Mayo Clinic. If your risk is low, doctors tend to stay away from medications in favor of lifestyle changes.

Medications to Treat Osteoporosis

If your doctor decides to go the route of using medications to treat your osteoporosis, you will likely be prescribed a medication from the class of bisphosphonates, such as risedronic acid, ibandronate acid or alendronate, as cited by WebMD. These medications help prevent the body from breaking down bone. Side effects of these medications include nausea, abdominal pain and heartburn-like symptoms. Hormone therapy _ either estrogen or estrogen in combination with progestin _ may be utilized to help prevent and treat osteoporosis.

IV Osteoporosis Treatment

Zoledronic acid a 15-minute injection that you receive once a year through an IV. It is a bisphosphonate that can increase bone strength and reduce fractures in the leg, rib, arm, hip, wrist and spine, according to WebMD. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting and bone pain. This medication is not recommended for individuals with a history of kidney problems.

How You Can Strengthen Your Bones

A diet rich in calcium helps to build and maintain strong bones. You should be getting at least 1200 milligrams a day, per WebMD. Your body also needs vitamin D (at least 800 international units) to help absorb calcium into your bones. Avoid foods (for example, red meats and soda) that contain a lot of phosphorus, a mineral which can promote bone loss. Drinking too much caffeine and alcohol can also reduce the amount of calcium that your body can absorb, so be mindful not to overindulge.