Osteoporosis: Test Your Knowledge
As many as 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and 34 million more have low bone mass, called osteopenia, says the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Why is bone loss so common?
As you age, you can lose bone mass from a variety of factors: Low estrogen, lack of calcium, vitamin D deficiency, a sedentary lifestyle, and other hormonal imbalances. Certain medications such as corticosteroids -- and some medical conditions such as digestive diseases or cystic fibrosis -- also weaken bones. And lifestyle habits such as smoking or too much alcohol may increase your risk.
10 Osteoporosis Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Are you concerned about bone fractures but feel unsure about what questions to ask your doctor about osteoporosis? Do you have a mother or sister who’s had a hip or spinal fracture? If so, you certainly have reason to be concerned. Even if osteoporosis doesn’t run in your family, you still need to address your risk factors. Osteoporosis leads to thinning bones. It is a major cause of bone fractures as people get older. But fractures can be prevented. Sometimes, though, it’s tough to know how to...
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Yet weak bones are not an inevitable result of aging. Many of the causes of osteoporosis are lifestyle factors you can change -- like getting plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise to build strong bones. If bone loss is still a problem, ask your doctor about what you can do to correct any hormone imbalances or other medical causes of bone loss.
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