1. Anatomy of a Bone
Bone is a regenerative mass of calcium and minerals. Bone mass continually breaks down and builds back up with new matter. The bone breaks down when it is degenerating faster than it is regenerating. Hormonal deficiencies and lack of calcium and Vitamin D can affect the quality and hardness. A reduction in estrogen signals osteoporosis in women and is a common form of bone density loss.
Family history is the greatest predictor of bone loss due to osteoporosis. Any weakness in the bone at a young age is usually due to an illness, eating disorder such as anorexia, too much exercise or steroid medications. Bone loss is dangerous because it increases the risk of fracture, especially in the elderly.
2. Testing for Bone Loss
Diagnosing bone loss is painless and usually tested in the spine and hips. Doctors recommend a dual energy x-ray test for postmenopausal women, especially for women more than sixty-five or with history of fractured bones. Testing is important for fracture prevention, identifying your personal rate of bone loss, and monitoring treatment once a year for effectiveness.
3. Eat to Prevent Bone Loss
Preventing bone loss and reducing bone loss starts in childhood with calcium and Vitamin D intake. Use dietary calcium and calcium supplements with Vitamin D in them throughout your lifetime. Good sources of calcium are milk, yogurt, mozzarella, cottage cheese, broccoli, collards, kale, calcium fortified orange juice and even ice cream.
Pregnant and postmenopausal women and estrogen therapy patients should increase their dosage according to their doctor's recommendations.
4. Don't Wait to Exercise
Early exercise habits, especially weight bearing exercises, build bone and prevent bone density loss. Bones and muscle respond to any resistance and exertion by building more tissue and bone to meet future physical challenges. The best weight bearing exercises are lifting weights, jogging and hiking, racket ball, climbing stairs and aerobics. Swimming and walking are not the best choice for building more bone mass. A doctor should guide any exercise program when you have a diagnosed bone loss.
5. Bone Strengthening Treatments
Hormone replacement therapy is the number one method used to reduce bone loss. A low dose of estrogen replaces the hormonal benefit we lose with age. Side effects include breast tenderness, bloating, headaches, and possible increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Recent studies support soy germ isoflavones, which mimic the structure and affect of estrogen in the body. Bone loss medications include bisphosphonates such as Fosamax, Boniva and Activa.
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