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Keep Your Bones Healthy & Prevent Osteoporosis

Posted July 29th, 2008 by faith

One of the most difficult parts of getting old is the weakening of the bones. Most people beyond 60 years old often develop osteoporosis and suffer fractures even in minor falls or accidents. Is there a way to prevent the slow decay of our skeletal structure?

Osteoporosis is a disease that makes the bones thin and brittle with holes inside of them. It affects millions of adults around the world and mostly occur in women. However, men can still acquire it. Most often, it occurs in women after menopause due to the lack of estrogen. Estrogen is known to protect the body from bone loss. For men, it is known to accelerate after testosterone production decreases. Risk factors that can’t be controlled include age, genetics, body build, and race. Reports indicate that those with slender frame are more likely to acquire the disease. Europeans and Asians are also known to be more prone to osteoporosis.

On the other hand, it is the manageable risk factors that we should try to manage. Smoking and alcohol make the bones lose density. If you are already among those who run the uncontrollable risks of getting osteoporosis, these vices should be avoided. Moreover, exercise and sufficient nutrition, especially those rich in calcium and vitamin D, also minimizes the risk of acquiring the disease.

There are medications that can minimize the risks or effects of osteoporosis. These are usually treatments that can increase bone density or slow the rate of bone loss. Those taking medication are advised to supplement their intake with calcium and vitamin D and exercise regularly. Then again, early detection is one of the best ways to minimize the risks. Aside from getting regular medical consultations, you should be conscious of symptoms such as back pains, loss of height, development of a dowager’s hump, and becoming prone to fractures.

As the cliche’ says, prevention is always better than cure. Just remember to drink milk as often as you can, eat a balanced diet, exercise, and get a good dose of the morning sun for your vitamin D.