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Your bones may support you, but they need your help to stay healthy. The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which your body loses bones or doesn’t make enough bone. Sometimes called the “silent disease” because bone loss occurs silently as we get older, meaning you may feel no warnings until you have a break. The result of not taking care of your bones is serious.
Ladies Listen Up!
Women face a higher risk of developing osteoporosis. Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about 80% are women[i].
Know the risks of bone loss See if you meet any of these risk factors.
If one or more of these apply to you, you may be at risk for developing osteoporosis.
Preventing or delaying
Your bones need good eating habits and a good workout. One of the things you can do to put-off or prevent bone loss is adding weight-bearing exercises to your day. Talk with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine. You can also do these things:
Along with making some changes in your lifestyle, consider making your house safer from falls. This can involve:
How are you tested?
A painless bone density test[ii] is used to find a loss in bone thickness and strength, and to see if you have osteoporosis or are at risk of bone loss over time.
If you are over 50 years old, or had any fracture or record of broken bones in your family talk to your doctor about a bone density scan.
You may need a painless bone density test if:
Keep in mind that all adults naturally lose bone mass as they age. But some people are at greater risk for loss than others. If you have one or more risk factors for osteoporosis, talk with your doctor about the prevention strategies that may be right for you.
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[i] https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/
[ii] Coverage for a bone density test may vary based on your specific health plan. Talk with your doctor or login to Blue Access for Members for benefit information.
Originally published 8/3/2015; Revised 2017