A disease of the bones, osteoporosis can make you highly susceptible to having fractures. Sometimes even a minor fall or bumping into something is enough to cause you to break a bone. According to doctors, you may end up with a fracture when you sneeze if you have an advanced case of osteoporosis!
Having osteoporosis can definitely reduce the quality of your life — it’s something that can leave you bound to a bed or wheelchair. The best way to prevent osteoporosis from striking is by acting now.
It’s also very important for you to know whether or not you are at high risk of facing osteoporosis sooner or later. If you are at risk, then it’s a good idea to start working with your doctor to know how you can fend off this disease. Luckily, osteoporosis is highly preventable, provided that you spring into action as soon as possible.
Wondering if you are in danger of suffering from osteoporosis in the future? According to doctors, you may be if you have one or more of the following osteoporosis risk factors:
You are a Female
Unfortunately, women are at higher risk of having to battle osteoporosis one day than men. Do take note that men can actually suffer from osteoporosis, too. However, the bone disease is just less common in them.
There are a number of reasons why women are more susceptible to having osteoporosis, and one of those is the changes in their hormone levels especially when they’re older. Doctors say that women simply have thinner bones and longer life spans than men, and that’s why they are more likely to encounter osteoporosis.
You are Older
According to doctors, your risk of having osteoporosis increases as you age. They say that women who are 50 years old and above are more prone to ending up with the dreaded bone disease. Your bones are at their hardest when you’re 30 years old — after that, they tend to get weaker and weaker.
Before you hit 50, make sure that you have a healthy eating habit and exercise regularly to keep your bones as strong as possible, thus considerably lowering your risk of ending up with osteoporosis.
You Have Poor Eating Habits
Certainly, you cannot do anything about your gender and your age in the quest to fend off osteoporosis, but you can surely do something about your diet!
Two of the most important nutrients for strengthening your bones are calcium and vitamin D, and something as simple as consuming foods that are rich in the said nutrients can help in preventing osteoporosis. You may also approach your doctor and ask about supplements to help shield you from osteoporosis.
You are Inactive
Do you like spending most of your waking hours visiting your various social media in bed or watching your favorite TV series seated on the couch? Then you may be at high risk of developing osteoporosis one day.
One of the risk factors for the said bone disease is a sedentary lifestyle. If you want to lower your odds of battling osteoporosis in the future, be physically active in the present. Muscle building as well as walking, running, hiking, bicycling and dancing are some forms of exercise that help strengthen your bones.
You Smoke and Drink Alcohol
It’s no secret that there are so many health nightmares that can show up because of cigarette smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, and one of those is osteoporosis. So if you don’t want to battle this bone disease in the future, avoid cigarette smoking and too much alcohol intake today!
However, doctors say that moderate amounts of alcohol (one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men) may actually help strengthen the bones, among many other health perks such can offer.
Other risk factors for osteoporosis include family history of the bone disease, intake of certain medications, body frame and ethnicity. If you have one or more of these risk factors, consider talking with your doctor on how to lower your osteoporosis risk considerably.
