It's tempting to believe that you won't need to worry about osteoporosis until you're older, but medical professionals warn against that assumption. In Mesa, Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Cave Creek, AZ, you may take an active step in preserving the health of your bones by being aware of your risk for osteoporosis.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), osteoporosis is a disease caused by excessive bone loss, insufficient bone production, or a combination of both. This condition can be devastating. When a person has osteoporosis, their bones grow weak and can break due to a fall or, in extreme cases, something as trivial as a knock or sneeze.
Who is Most Prone to Osteoporosis?
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), almost 53 million people in the United States have osteoporosis or are at risk of acquiring it. Although there isn't a single identifiable cause of osteoporosis, numerous known risk factors exist, particularly for older persons.
You run a higher chance of getting osteoporosis if you have a family record of the condition, use certain drugs like steroids or antacids that include aluminum, drastically reduce your weight, and eat poorly. The risk of osteoporosis increases with age, and many women develop it after menopause. Maintaining bone strength is a sensible priority at any age. However, a fracture-resistant frame becomes more important around the age of 50, when weaker bones cause breaks in one in every two women and one in every five males.
Common Practices That Are Harming Your Bones
Here are seven habits that contribute to bone weakness:
1. Too little exposure to the sun
People who work from home in Fountain Hills and Cave Creek, spend the majority of their time indoors. This not only keeps you passive, but it also lowers your exposure to sunshine. Ensure you get at least 20 minutes of sun exposure each day because sunlight is a good source of vitamin D, which is necessary for calcium absorption.
2. High salt consumption
High salt consumption has been linked to bone demineralization, which increases the risk of osteoporosis in studies.
3. Excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol also boosts cortisol production in the body, contributing to bone loss. Alcohol also lowers your body's levels of testosterone and estrogen, hormones that are beneficial to bone health.
4. Sedentary lifestyle
Sedentary people are more likely to experience fast bone loss. Muscle contractions strengthen your bones. As a result, activities are critical for bone health. Weight-bearing exercises, such as brisk walking, promote bone health.
5. Smoking
Cigarette smoking impairs your body's ability to generate healthy bones regularly. Smokers are more likely to sustain fractures and slow-healing bone damage. The longer you smoke, the worse your prognosis becomes. On the other hand, quitting smoking can promote bone health.
6. Bad posture
Long hours at a workstation in Apache Junction or slouching while binge-watching your favorite TV series in Scottsdale can strain your musculoskeletal system and lead to degenerative changes in your bones and joints.
7. Coffee and carbonated beverages
Too much caffeine from beverages like coffee, tea, and cola-flavored soda can leach calcium from your bones, making them brittle and more prone to fracture. Instead, try switching to milk or calcium-containing beverages.
A bone density test is required to diagnose osteoporosis since it provides more information regarding the health of your bones. This test determines your risk of osteoporosis fractures in a quick, affordable, and painless. Anyone with any of the aforementioned osteoporosis risk factors should obtain a bone density test to determine the bone mass and the presence of osteoporosis.
Knowing the causes of osteoporosis can help you take preventative measures and actively contribute to bone health by lowering your risk. In-home care can also assist if you have osteoporosis and want to keep your independence and quality of life. Our caregivers at Senior Helpers of Mesa are well-qualified to offer specialized care to you or a loved one. We serve Mesa, Arizona, as well as Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Cave Creek nearby, and would be honored to work with your loved one(s) to ensure that they spend as much time as possible living comfortably at home. Contact us for further information.
It's tempting to believe that you won't need to worry about osteoporosis until you're older, but medical professionals warn against that assumption. In Mesa, Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Cave Creek, AZ, you may take an active step in preserving the health of your bones by being aware of your osteoporosis risk.