The definition of osteoporosis is “porous bone.” It occurs when your body fails to make enough bone and/or loses bone, which causes decreased bone density. This weakens your bones’ ability to resist fractures. At its worst, osteoporosis can result in a spinal fracture with simply coughing or sneezing.
The good news is that osteoporosis is not considered a normal part of aging. You can help prevent it or stop it from worsening if you’ve already developed it. The right combination of foods and a few healthy lifestyle changes can keep osteoporosis from interfering with your daily life.
Many health issues are linked with a greater incidence of developing osteoporosis, including autoimmune disorders such as:
Gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease also increase your chances of developing osteoporosis. Poor nutrition or taking certain medications increases the risk as well.
Other conditions that are often associated with developing osteoporosis include:
Osteoporosis has no symptoms initially and many people don’t know they have it until they break a bone. Various diagnostic studies exist to help determine whether your bones are losing mass, such as the bone mineral density test that uses a special machine to measure bone density.
Bone density testing is usually done on the hips, spine, or forearm. It’s a noninvasive test that is painless, but useful for your physician, since you may be developing osteoporosis without knowing it. Your provider may also order other labs and diagnostic tests to help determine if you have another medical condition leading to bone loss.
Because bone health is related to nutrition, exercise, and overall health, the best treatment is prevention through a nutritious diet and weight bearing exercise that keeps your bones strong.
Nutrients essential to bone health include:
The physicians at The Ash Center can develop a personalized nutrition and exercise plan that includes all you need to keep your bones healthy, even if you’ve already developed osteoporosis.
Feel free to email us regarding any scheduling or general questions!