Osteoporosis and Your Bone Health

If you are a woman, it is vitally important for you to pay attention to your bone health. This is because after Menopause, your risk for developing Osteoporosis goes up substantially. And, if you take care of your bone health while you are young, this will help to reduce your risk for developing Osteoporosis when you are older.

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that causes them to become weakened and more likely to fracture. Osteoporosis can happen at any time in men and women but usually occurs in women after they have reached Menopause. Osteoporosis affects all the bones in the body, however, breaks are most common in the hip, wrist and spine. In addition to the threat of broken bones, Osteoporosis can also cause severe pain and disability and make it difficult to perform everyday tasks such as walking, climbing stairs and driving.

Signs of Osteoporosis include sloping shoulders, a curve in the back, loss of height, back pain, a hunched posture and a protruding stomach. If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit your OBGYN or Internist as soon as possible. He or she may recommend a DXA scan to measure the density of your bones. This will help to accurately diagnose your condition and determine the severity of the Osteoporosis.

Caucasian and Asian females with a thin body type are at the highest risk of developing Osteoporosis. Age is also a contributing factor. There are a variety of things you can do to reduce your risk of developing Osteoporosis. To reduce your risk of developing this disease, you should abstain from smoking, limit your intake of alcohol, exercise regularly and make sure to eat a diet that is rich in Vitamin D and Calcium.

By taking care of your bone health today, you can increase your chances of having healthy bones later in life. For more information about Osteoporosis and how to reduce your risks, talk to your OBGYN today.