During the month of May, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) focuses on the topic of bone health to raise awareness about the prevalence and danger of low bone density and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis-related bone breakages occur in half of all women and up to a quarter of all men over the age of 50. While most people do not realize bone strength is crucial to overall health, the reality is that it’s just as important as making lifestyle changes to prevent cancer or heart disease.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become weak and can break more easily. Approximately 10 million Americans already have the disease and around 34 million are at risk due to low bone mass. The general belief is that bones are hard and lifeless, while the opposite is actually true — bones are living, growing tissue.
Children and teenagers form new bone faster than they lose old bone. In fact, even after they stop growing, young people continue to make more bone than they lose. This means their bones become denser until they reach peak bone mass, having the greatest amount of bone you will ever have, between the ages of 18 and 25.
After reaching peak bone mass, the balance between bone formation and bone loss can begin to change. In other words, you might start to slowly lose more bone than you form. In midlife, bone loss usually speeds up in both men and women. Osteoporosis occurs when you lose too much bone; produce too little bone growth, or both. The more bone you have at the time of peak bone mass, the less likely you are to break a bone or develop osteoporosis later in life.
There are many factors that contribute to whether someone may develop osteoporosis, including age and gender, family history, and low body weight. Below is a list of lifestyle factors affecting bone health that can be easily addressed:
- Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D
- Not eating enough fruits and vegetables
- Taking in too much protein, sodium, and caffeine
- Having an inactive lifestyle
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
Talk to your health professional today about possible risk factors for osteoporosis and scheduling a bone density test to assess your bone health.
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