With an aging population, osteoporosis rates are likely to rise. 

Osteoporosis is a reality we all have to contend with: at some point in our thirties, our bones begin to lose mineral density and weaken. At first, this condition doesn’t have any outward symptoms; however, if we don’t take action, our weakening bones will leave us vulnerable to serious injury.

The first time many people find out they have osteoporosis is when they break a bone. In this way, osteoporosis doesn’t actually hurt- but the broken bones it causes do hurt, and they can lead to long term health impacts.

Osteoporosis in the spine

Take the spine for example- loss of bone density weakens your vertebrae and leaves you vulnerable to spinal compression fractures. These fractures can lead to structural changes in your spine, chronic back pain and further spinal degeneration. What you should take out of this is that osteoporosis doesn’t have to be a life-defining condition: the degree to which your bone density loss affects your life is down to the action you take. And the sooner your start, the better. 

Preventing osteoporosis

The best things you can do for your bones are to eat well and exercise. If you are worried about bone health, the most important ingredients are calcium and Vitamin D as part of a balanced diet. Magnesium is another mineral that is often forgotten, but is key to calcium absorption in the body. 

Regular exercise fortifies your bones and the muscles that support them, thereby reducing your risk of injury and breakage. Body-weight exercises help to increase your body’s natural load-bearing capacity and prevent injury.

Take action to prevent osteoporosis! As we said above, the sooner you start the better. If you need help getting started, give our office in Milpitas a call to schedule an appointment today.