How to Prevent Osteoporosis

As you get older your bones become thinner and weaker.  It occurs because the body old bone tissue faster than it produces new bone tissue.  The condition itself doesn’t have symptoms that can be recognized without having a bone density scan to determine how healthy your bones are.  The DEXA test can identify osteoporosis and osteopenia, which is a less serious condition.  So what can senior citizens or anyone over 50 do to minimize problems:

Step 1: Know your family history.  Heredity plays a significant role in osteoporosis.  If you have a parent who had it you are more susceptible to it.

Step 2:  Know the risk factors for being more susceptible to developing osteoporosis.  These risk factors include: being female (although men are affected by it), early natural menopause or surgically induced menopause, are Caucasian or Asian,  have irregular menstrual periods or go months without a period,  eat a diet low in vitamin D and calcium, have anorexia nervosa, have taken some mediations like corticosteroids for a sustained period of time, lead an inactive lifestyle, smoked cigarettes and drink excessively.

Step 3:  If you suffer from bone fractures from minor incidents discuss with your doctor if osteoporosis could be a contributing factor.

Step 4:  Add exercise to your lifestyle.  Exercise increases osteoblast production and osteoblasts are responsible for building bone.  Walking is a wonderful exercise that can help increase osteoblast production.  It will help your cardiovascular system as well.

Step 5:  Make sure your diet contains calcium and vitamin D.  Discuss with your health professional other medical additives that might be appropriate for your needs.

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