on US orders over $100
on all US orders over $100
Osteoporosis, a medical condition in which the bones weaken over time, leading to mobility difficulties and even injury, is one of the most common health conditions facing older adults. It's particularly common among older women. For World Osteoporosis Day, we've put together a guide to everything you need to know about osteoporosis. Read on to learn about ways that you can build strong bones and prevent falls!
A broken bone isn't always the temporary condition that a younger adult may view it as. Broken bones may not heal properly for older adults with osteoporosis, and these breaks often occur in crucial and intricate areas like the spine, hip, or wrist. The long-term effects of broken bones may include limited mobility, which can lead to less independence and a risk of depression, and complications from the broken bone or corrective surgery. These complications can even be fatal.
Although bones seem fixed and unyielding to us, they're constantly being broken down and rebuilt. As we age, the rate at which new bone is produced decreases, and we start to lose more than we create. This process begins at a relatively young age -- many people reach their peak bone mass around age 30, and that peak mass affects your likelihood of developing osteoporosis.
This is only one of the risk factors, however. Some are attributed to lifestyle choice, and some are uncontrollable or the result of medical conditions or treatments. These latter risk factors include:
Some risk factors for osteoporosis are more controllable:
The best advice about preventing osteoporosis comes down to what you'd probably expect: a healthy lifestyle. A good diet and regular exercise may not guarantee immunity, but strengthening your bone tissue is still the best defense against osteoporosis.
Exercise helps strengthen your bones -- much like muscle, bone rebuilds and becomes stronger after exercise. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises are the best forms for this, but strength training is also valuable:
A healthy diet to strengthen your bones is largely built around calcium and vitamin D. The mineral calcium is essential to bone health as well as other bodily processes, and without it bones will break down to provide calcium to the rest of your body. Sources include:
Vitamin D is also necessary, as it helps the body absorb calcium. It's not found in many foods, but your skin produces it when exposed to sunlight (be cautious of sun damage - you don't need to be outside long enough to burn in order to get your daily dose of Vitamin D). This is the easiest way to get Vitamin D, but there are other sources:
Aside from a healthy diet and exercise, here are some steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis has no cure, but those with it may be prescribed a number of drugs or treatments to help strengthen bones, including:
Mountain Ice Joint and Bone Health Complex: Our advanced formula is designed to promote better bone health while increasing joint flexibility and motion. Our unique formulation is comprised of potent, all-natural ingredients designed to reduce inflammation and protect connective tissue in joints. Proven bone health ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, Vitamin D, calcium, green tea extract and hyaluronic acid encourage the regrowth of bone and connective tissue. Click here to order today!
Fall prevention is one of the most important facets of osteoporosis treatment. Broken bones from falls are a major cause of complications and even death from osteoporosis. Preventing falls is an article all its own (and conveniently you can find it right here!), but here are some basic tips:
Ensuring you're at your healthiest involves many different aspects of health: the right diet and nutrients, adequate rest, regular exercise, and the right medications to manage ongoing conditions. Luckily Mountainside Medical Equipment has you covered! We've got everything to get you active and help you stay healthy. Click this link to visit our bone and joint health products!
Leave a comment