Prevent Bone Loss and Reduce Your Risk of Fractures

As the human body ages, bones naturally lose density and strength. Osteoporosis, however, represents an abnormal amount of bone loss due to a reduction of mineral content, mainly calcium. Bones become riddled with small holes and lose mass. Osteoporosis can lead to stress fractures in the upper spine, causing curvature of the upper spine ("dowager’s hump") and can cause bones to fracture easily, especially hip and wrist bones. Bone loss from osteoporosis affects mainly post-menopausal women, but men are frequently affected, as well.

Many things can contribute to osteoporosis. The loss of estrogen in menopausal women can reduce bone strength, as estrogen protects the rigidity of bone. Chemotherapy patients can be at particular risk of osteoporosis. Lack of exercise and proper diet also contribute to bone loss over time. Smoking and heavy alcohol use have both been linked to an increase in bone density loss, as have certain diseases and conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and anorexia nervosa.

Abnormal bone loss can be difficult to detect until after a fracture has occurred. A bone density scan is a special type of x-ray that measures bone loss in patients who exhibit other osteoporosis symptoms, such as back pain or a curvature of the upper back. Bone density scans are not yet routine screening procedures for otherwise healthy aging adults.

Methods of Preventing Bone Loss

The best method of treating abnormal bone loss caused by osteoporosis is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium, can improve bone health. Vitamin D also plays a part in bone formation and retention. Fifteen minutes of sunshine daily produces a significant portion of the body’s Vitamin D requirement. It can be difficult to ensure consistent amounts of calcium and Vitamin D through diet alone, so supplementation is important as people enter their fifties. Calcium supplements are engineered to provide the correct amount of the mineral to ensure bone integrity.

Actively managing bone health ensures that bones do not become abnormally brittle over time and break easily. Bone loss and osteoporosis can be prevented by providing the body with all of the essential minerals that are lost during the aging process.