| Throughout your life, stress is put on your bones. | | | | much, as this can cause serious health problems. |
| During your childhood and adolescent years, your | | | | Take other natural supplements, such as: vitamin |
| bones can grow in size and mass. This increase | | | | D, vitamin K2 and magnesium. |
| continues on until around the age of 30. Around | | | | While natural supplements are helpful in preventing |
| this age, your bone mass has reached its peak. | | | | bone breakdown, there are some other things |
| Once it has reached its peak, bone loss can begin. | | | | you must do. Regular resistance exercises help to |
| If you have strong bones at age 30, the bone | | | | improve your muscle mass and bone strength by |
| loss process will be slower as you age. | | | | causing your bones and muscles to work against |
| Your bones begin to break down when they are | | | | gravity while they bear your weight. |
| deficient in calcium or if the calcium is poorly | | | | Other weight bearing exercises to try include, but |
| absorbed. Bone breakdown occurs because when | | | | are not limited to: |
| the body is deficient in calcium, it must pull what is | | | | · Walking |
| stored in the bones to maintain other functions, | | | | · Running |
| such as: heartbeat, nerve, and muscle function. | | | | · Dancing |
| What is Osteoporosis? | | | | · Aerobics |
| Osteoporosis is a disease where the bone density | | | | · Tennis |
| and quality are significantly reduced. As the bones | | | | · Skiing |
| become more fragile, fractures becomes a higher | | | | · Skating |
| risk for people. The most common fractures that | | | | · Rollerblading |
| affect people with this disease are: fractures of | | | | What Tests are Available for Bone Density? |
| the hip, spine, and wrist. | | | | A bone density scan can help determine bone |
| Other concerns for bone density loss are | | | | mass. They are performed by a DEXA scan that |
| vertebral fractures. These types of fractures can | | | | provides a T-score, which is a measure of bone |
| cause serious problems, such as: loss of height, | | | | mineral density. It compares a person's bone |
| severe back pain, and deformity. If a person | | | | mineral density to that of a healthy 30 year old |
| suffers from a hip fracture, many times this will | | | | adult's bone density. |
| require surgery and could cause the person to | | | | A person who has a T-score of -1.0 and above |
| lose his/her ability to live independently. | | | | has normal bone density. A person who has a |
| Preventing Osteoporosis in the first place is your | | | | T-score of -1.0 to -2.5 has low bone mass, and a |
| best defense for preventing fractures and pain | | | | person with a T-score of -2.5 and below could |
| later on in life. Osteoporosis does not have to be | | | | have Osteoporosis. |
| an inevitable part of your future. Taking steps | | | | Getting a bone density scan is critical in |
| now will help you avoid these serious health | | | | determining bone mass. Trying to prevent low |
| problems in the future. | | | | bone mass in the first place by taking calcium |
| When is the best Time to Act? | | | | natural supplements and doing weight bearing |
| The best point in your life to take calcium natural | | | | exercises on a regular basis early on in life could |
| supplements is during your childhood and | | | | help to prevent the debilitating health issues that |
| adolescent years. Your goal is to provide your | | | | can occur with low bone density. |
| bones with the nutrients they need to be healthy | | | | For those who have taken care of themselves |
| and strong by the time your bones have reached | | | | and are still diagnosed with Osteoporosis because |
| their peak in growth. | | | | they are genetically predisposed, there are |
| What can you do? | | | | effective treatments that can help you. However, |
| First, you must increase your calcium. You can do | | | | even if you are genetically predisposed, you |
| this by taking calcium natural supplements; | | | | should still do what you can to have a healthy |
| however, it is important that you do not take too | | | | body. |