Osteoporosis is a huge concern for so many of us as we age. We fear falling and breaking a hip or just breaking any of our bones because our bones have become so brittle and so weak. If you aren’t sure about the health of your bones you should make an appointment with your doctor and have a bone density screening done.
There are some things that cause bone loss that you can’t control your age or your genes, and one of the worst things about osteoporosis is that you can have it and not even know it. On the other hand, most people will notice some pain in places that they didn’t have it before that can be a sign of bone loss.
So, what are some of the things you can do to help prevent bone loss? The list isn’t long, but, anything you can do to help is better than doing nothing at all.
The first thing you need to do is have a bone density screening done at your doctor’s office. Knowing where you stand is important and will help you know what to do for your bone health in the future. Unless there are other issues at hand, women should start getting regular bone density screenings done starting around the age of 65 and men can actually wait to start screenings around age 70.
You should also know exactly what your risk factors are when it comes to bone loss. Did either parent suffer from bone loss? Are you a man with low testosterone? Are you taking medications that can cause weaker bones? If any of these apply to you then you should start bone density screenings earlier than 65 or 70.
Increase the amounts of vitamin D and calcium in your diet. It’s a known fact that calcium is great for your bones and your teeth by making them stronger. Vitamin D can do the same thing for them. If you can’t get the calcium and vitamin D that you need in your diet, you should consider taking some form of supplement in order to get what you need to stay healthy. Talk to your doctor first before taking supplements of any kind.
Just like the rest of your body, your bones need exercise in order to keep them strong and in some cases, make them stronger. Choose exercise known as “weight-bearing” in order to get the best result from your exercise.
You can do weight training, aerobics, dancing, walking or yoga and these are just a few. Lift some weights or use resistance bands to get a great workout. If you aren’t used to any type of exercise, start slowly and work your way up to doing more as you can.
If you practice yoga or tai-chi to help with your bones, then you are in a win-win because both of those help with balance as well. If you have good balance, there is less chance you’ll fall. Less chance of falling means less chance of breaking bones. So, you come out on the better end of the stick doing one or both of those exercises.
Good bone health is important as you age. Take care of your bones just like you do the rest of your body. You’ll be very glad you did.
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