Osteoporosis Prevention: Is it Possible?
February 15, 2023
Did you know that 50% of women in the United States will break a bone because of osteoporosis?
There is good news to report about osteoporosis. First and foremost, you have the ability to slow and even stop its progression. There are several lifestyle factors you can integrate into your everyday life to help strengthen your bones, which helps prevent the pervasive condition. As in most cases, the earlier you begin a proactive approach to combatting osteoporosis, the better chances you have of interrupting its progression — and in some cases, even rebuild bone density.
What Are Your Risk Factors
Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis. That’s an unchangeable biological-level fact. In addition to your sex, other common risk factors include:
- Family History: If a close relative has osteoporosis, there’s a higher chance you could develop it.
- Hormones: Early menopause or a loss of menstruation due to hormone changes can affect bone health.
- Medical Conditions: Certain types of medical conditions can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis. Check with your doctor to find out if you are living with any.
- Medication: Prescription medications can negatively impact bone density. Corticosteroids often used for autoimmune conditions are an example of that.
Dietary Health Factors
Balanced diets are key to your overall health — as they are for osteoporosis. Calcium is one of the most important nutrients to support your bone health. In general, adults need about 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. For women over 50 and men over 70 1,200 milligrams are recommended daily. Vitamin D is also a crucial nutrient. It aids in the body’s absorption of calcium.
The best sources of foods to prevent osteoporosis include cruciferous vegetables, dairy, eggs, leafy greens, and salmon.
Targeted Exercising
Exercise is good. We all know that. Weight-bearing and resistance-based exercise can help with bone density. When you are moving your body, the cells that build your bones are stimulated. Utilize your own body weight, elastic bands and weights to achieve these types of exercises.
Bonus! You also improve your balance with these kinds of exercises which reduces fall risk.
Osteoporosis Treatment
Even if you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis, it’s never too late to start integrating the aforementioned changes into your lifestyle. However, you will need treatments from a specialist to help supplement those efforts. Those treatments include a spectrum of options, including:
- Hormone Therapy: This treatment is used for menopausal women and sometimes younger women.
- Fracture Treatment: Any bone fractures sustained by someone with osteoporosis need immediate medical attention.
- Medication: These treatments can be in the form of oral pills or IV infusions.
Osteoporosis Specialists in Cincinnati
Healthy bones are critical to maintaining your quality of life. If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis, seek out a bone specialist who can help you manage, slow, and even possibly reverse it. Schedule an appointment online today.