If you have osteoporosis, secondary prevention works. Drugs, exercise, and a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D strengthen bones at any age and at any stage of osteoporosis.

If you suspect that you have osteoporosis or that you may be at risk, see your doctor.  Following a comprehensive medical assessment, your physician may want to test  your bone density . Screening tests include dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), ultrasound, and quantitative CT scanning. These and certain other non-invasive procedures allow your doctor to measure the density of bones in your spine, hip and wrist - the areas most likely to be affected by osteoporosis - and to accurately follow changes in your bones over time.

Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend drug therapy, prevention measures, or both.

Drug therapy for osteoporosis centers on medications that work to slow the rate of bone loss or increase the rate of bone growth. These include:

• Hormone Therapy (HT), once the best-known way to prevent osteoporosis in women, uses estrogen alone or in combination with progestin. Some women and their doctors opt for other types of treatments due to the health risks associated with HT.
• Bisphosphonates . This group of drugs can inhibit bone breakdown, preserve bone mass, and even slowly increase bone density in your spine and hip. These drugs may be especially beneficial for men.
• Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) , such as Raloxifene, mimic estrogen's beneficial effects on bone density in postmenopausal women - without some of the risks associated with estrogen therapy.
• Calcitonin . A hormone produced by the thyroid gland, calcitonin reduces bone resorption and may slow bone loss. It may also prevent spinal fractures, though it doesn't appear to protect against hip fractures.
• Tamoxifen. Used for years to treat breast cancer, this synthetic hormone has an estrogen-like effect on bone cells and appears to reduce the risk of fractures, especially in women over age 50.
• Parathyroid Hormone Therapy (PTH) is approved for post-menopausal women and men who are at high risk of fracture.  PTH stimulates new bone formation and increases bone density. 

As with all medications, be sure to ask your doctor about risks, side effects, and interactions with other drugs you may be taking.

Prevention measures can greatly reduce your risk of osteoporosis. If you already have osteoporosis, these steps can help prevent your bones from getting weaker and, in some cases, may even help replace bone you have lost. These include:

• Stop smoking. Although scientists are not sure why, smoking increases bone loss.
• Avoid excess alcohol consumption. More than two drinks a day may decrease bone formation and reduce your body's ability to absorb calcium.
• Exercise regularly. Maintain bone strength by engaging in weight-bearing exercises (walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights). Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
• Eat healthy foods and get adequate calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is a mineral that is important in the formation of strong healthy bone tissue. Get it through the food you eat or, if necessary, from a supplemental source. Your body needs vitamin D so that you can absorb calcium. Good sources include fortified low-fat milk, oily fish (such as salmon, tuna, herring, sardines), liver, and egg yolk. Your body also produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight.