How to prevent osteoporosis? Your bones can become weak from osteoporosis. It can cause bone loss, injuries, and even mortality if left untreated. Contrary to what you may have heard, males are not more prone than women to develop osteoporosis. Hip fractures are more likely to occur in 10% of affected women.
Osteoporosis develops when there is a reduction in bone mass, resulting in thinner bones with a higher propensity to break. Osteoporosis can happen at any age, and there are many ways you can prevent it from happening in the first place or slow down its progression if it has already started affecting your health:
Osteoporosis symptoms vary from person to person because the health conditions are constantly changing. No wonder the health experts call it a silent disease. The individual does not notice or feel the symptoms that may be signaling osteoporosis. For example, there are no headaches, fevers, or pain in the stomach. In plain sight, everything looks ideal.
However, the most common symptom is the breaking of bones from a minor fall or a small accident. The symptoms gradually over time because the bones are losing their density. Notice the following instances.
- Reduction in height by an inch or more.
- Rapidly changing natural posture.
- Excessive shortness of breath because the spinal disks are pushing against the lungs. Thus, reducing their capacity.
- Lower back pain because of a weak lumbar spine.
Osteoporosis patients have difficulty recognizing the changes in their physical presence. However, a loved one is quick to notice evident changes such as height and posture. Sometimes, they will make a “shrinking” joke. If it is happening to you often, contact a health provider immediately.
Solutions for How to Prevent Osteoporosis
Make sure you follow these tips to prevent osteoporosis.
1 – Take calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 supplements
Supplements containing calcium, Vit D, and high In potassium can help prevent osteoporosis. These three nutrients are essential for bone health but are not the only ones you need to worry about.
- Calcium: The recommended daily amount of calcium is 1000 mg per day for people over 50, 600 mg per day for those between ages 19-50, and 400 mg per day for those under 19. If you don’t get enough calcium in your diet or if there’s a problem with absorption (such as lactose intolerance), supplementing with 5000 mg of elemental calcium twice daily is recommended by most doctors. Strong bones are created by calcium, which helps avoid osteoporosis throughout life. Osteoporosis is a condition that can develop later in life in those who do not consume sufficient calcium or vitamin D.
- Vitamin D3: Most Americans get about 400 IU (international units) of vitamin D from their diet each day through foods like dairy products and fish oil supplements; however, some people may need more than this amount because they’re at risk for developing nutritional deficiencies such as rickets caused by low levels in UVB exposure during childhood. It’s also important that pregnant women receive 600 IUs per day starting at week 6 when their fetus gets sufficient sunlight exposure. Also, don’t forget to consume cloves.
2 – Eat more calcium-rich foods, like fortified dairy and kale
An important vitamin that supports strong bones is calcium. It’s important for building and maintaining healthy teeth, muscles, and nerves.
Several meals contain calcium, including dark-green leafy greens like:
- kale
- broccoli
- collard greens
- fish like salmon or sardines
- dairy products like milk (1 cup has about 300 mg)
- yogurt (one cup contains about 300 mg)
- soybeans (soy milk has about 90 mg per cup)
If you’re not getting enough calcium through your diet alone, try taking supplements daily if possible. And use one that contains 1000-1200mg per tablet/caplet, which should last two months at least!
3 – Exercise Regularly
A good way to prevent osteoporosis is by getting more exercise regularly. You can find one-minute workouts on YouTube if you don’t have time to exercise. It’s important to be physically active. Exercise can help you feel better, lose weight and sleep better.
Exercise has been shown to increase bone density in postmenopausal women by about 2% per year after five years of regular exercise. In addition to preventing osteoporosis, regular exercise also helps reduce your risk for other health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
4 – Avoid alcohol, limit caffeine, and don’t smoke
The following way-of-life decisions can aid in osteoporosis prevention:
- Limit caffeine, stay away from alcohol, and never smoke. Because alcohol is a stimulant, it can increase the amount of calcium lost through the urine and cause bone loss. Coffee reduces the body’s ability to absorb calcium from food sources and may also lower bone mineral density (BMD). Smoking increases the risk of osteoporosis in men because it causes bone loss through reduced bone formation and increased bone resorption.
- Insufficient vitamin D can cause osteoporosis. It would be best to have vitamin D for proper immune system functioning. And therefore for healthy bones. Because it helps regulate how much calcium your body absorbs from food into bones at each mealtime with its key role as an activator for calcitriol production by our kidneys.
- Consume vegetables to be more on track with your health.
Also Read: Weird and Unusual Vegetables That You Must Know
5 – See your physician about possible aiding drugs
Your doctor can help you choose a medication that can help prevent osteoporosis. Some medicines are used for other health conditions, but they also have been shown to reduce your risk of fractures, falls, heart disease, and diabetes.
- Antibiotics: These drugs work by reducing inflammation in the body. They’re often prescribed after surgery or when an infection in your joints (like arthritis). If you have osteoporosis and are taking an antibiotic regularly for another reason (such as a urinary tract infection), talk with your doctor about whether this might affect the effectiveness of the treatment for bone loss.
- Beta-blockers: This type of blood pressure medicine works by lowering blood pressure overall, reducing risk factors associated with osteoporosis.
- Calcium supplements: The best way to get enough calcium into your bones is through food sources such as milk products; however, if these aren’t available, calcium supplements can help provide extra support while building up new ones over time.
You can prevent osteoporosis by making a few changes in how you live
You can prevent osteoporosis by making a few changes in how you live. You should:
- Consume calcium and other bone-healthy nutrients as part of a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes daily).
- Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine, which can lead to weaker bones.
Avoid bad mental health days and talk to your doctor about medications that may help with osteoporosis prevention if they are medically necessary.
Conclusion
Osteoporosis is a weakening of bones that occurs as most people grow older. The primary cause of osteoporosis is loss of calcium from the body, and loss of height, weight, muscle mass, and physical activity may also contribute to osteoporosis.
We hope this post has assisted you in determining the types of lifestyle modifications that will aid in osteoporosis prevention. Therefore, it is very important to keep your bone density healthy, so you can maintain good posture and avoid the risk of osteoporosis.
