Osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis?
Healthy bones are being constantly broken down and rebuilding themselves. Sometimes this process can become out of balance and lead to Osteoporosis. You won’t notice a difference but your bones might be losing their strength. This means you could be more likely to have a break or fracture if you were to fall.
This all sounds a bit gloomy, I know, but you may be able to reduce your risks. Eating a healthy balanced diet and cutting down on unhealthy foods, fizzy drinks and caffeine will help. Having optimal calcium and vitamin D is essential as are other nutrients. These include vitamins B, C and K and also magnesium. Impact and strength training are also really helpful to build better bones and may improve your balance to reduce falls.
It is also important to be aware, and act upon, reducing the risks caused by smoking alcohol; low body weight and rapid weight loss; poor diet and falling over. Family history; age; some diseases and medications; and hormonal changes are also significant factors in osteoporosis but we are less able to change these.
What are my risks?
Worldwide, osteoporosis is estimated to affect 200 million women – approximately one-tenth of women aged 60, one-fifth of women aged 70, two-fifths of women aged 80 and two-thirds of women aged 90. In women over 45 years of age, osteoporosis accounts for more days in hospital than may other diseases, including diabetes, heart attack and breast cancer (International Osteoporosis Society data). Men are at risk but less so.
What has the menopause got to do with this?
The menopause is the time when the levels of oestrogen hormone drop in the female body. Oestroegen’s bone-supporting role will decline with it. The age for the menopause is, on average, 51 years old so after this time bone density and strength can rapidly decrease.
So, get informed, get advice from your doctor and get proactive about looking after your bones – get moving, get healthy and get strong (for so many reasons, not just your bones).
Most of the above information comes from the Royal Osteoporosis Society website. They have a brilliant function to check your risks. You can also support them via my Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/gail-crump-3?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
I’m walking my dogs at least 51 miles this week to try to raise awareness of osteoporosis and how we can influence it. Please support me if you can.
Many thanks
Gail and Team Furry
PS If you would like an osteopathic appointment with me – we can discuss loads about bone health considerations as well as the joints, muscles etc then please book online at https://www.osteopathyatthemews.com/