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They say that prevention is better than cure. And they are absolutely right! Once a patient has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, it is difficult, if next to impossible for the patient to ever fully recover. Yes, the density of bones my increase and bones may get stronger, but that does not mean that osteoporosis has been fully cured. What it could mean, however, is that it has come down to a less-risky level called osteopenia.
Taking care of bone health should be something that should start from a very early age. By the time a woman is between the ages of 25-30 years, her bone density should be at its peak. If at this time it is discovered that it is below the level than it should be, means the woman is at higher risk of suffering from osteopenia by the time she is in the postmenstrual stage of life.
When a woman is between the ages of 30-35, she begins to lose more bone density than she can create. Imagine that! So if a woman, say at the age of 25 was not at the peak of bone strength and then again at the age of 30 she finds herself losing more than gaining from her bones, she will almost absolutely be a victim of osteopenia, if not full-blown osteoporosis. A scary factor of this bone disease is that there are no symptoms. Only if and when a bone fractures or is broken can the severity of it can be concluded. Doctors recommend regular bone density scans to keep osteoporosis at bay, and this is the first preventive tactic.
As children, one may be fussy to drink a glass of milk, or one may be lactose intolerant. That is ok. The importance of drinking milk is because it contains vital amounts of calcium which is what bones are mostly made of! So if milk cannot be consumed, there are other substitutes from food and also supplements that can be taken that will replenish the calcium supply in the body. Another important thing to remember is that one should avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks as much as possible. The reason being that these ingredients erode bone mass which is detrimental to preventing osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Vitamin D is another vital element that builds bone mass and the best way to get it is by soaking in the early morning sun. Daytime sun is harmful for skin and can cause skin cancers, but the rays from the just-risen sun are packed with vitamin D that no supplement can compare with it. Also while you go out to get your rays of sunshine, a brisk walk for around 30 minutes wouldn’t hurt either. This also helps to strengthen bones. So, lots of vitamin D and exercise are the other preventive measures for osteoporosis or its earlier onslaught, osteopenia.
Basically, a healthy lifestyle goes a long way in keeping bones strong and healthy. The lifestyle that people currently live is what is causing the skyrocketing rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Simple changes like walking instead of driving, drinking and eating fresh produce, taking supplements for the vitamins and minerals that cannot be consumed and getting scans and medical check-ups can seriously make prevention better than cure.
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