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The bones are living, dynamic organs. They are a factory for blood
cells, a storage tank for minerals and nutrients, and support the
body and give it form. The bones are continually dissolving old bone
tissue and renewing it with new tissue. Osteoporosis is a disease
which gradually develops over a period of years. The resulting loss
of bone tissue can leave those afflicted with very weak and fragile
bones. If preventive measures are not taken, untreated osteoporosis
can progress unnoticed for decades until a fracture occurs. The most
common form of osteoporosis affects post menopausal women and can
often result in fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine. However, this
is not to say that men are not affected by the disease.
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More Information Lifestyle Changes That Can Help 1. Make weight bearing exercise a part of your daily routine. 2. Quit smoking and reduce your risk for osteoporosis & most other diseases. 3. Reduce soft drink consumption. 4. Be sure to get your daily dose of calcium and vitamin D, both nutrients are necessary to build & maintain bone tissue. 5. See your doctor for a bone density test, after age 50. |
The cause of osteoporosis is unknown, however the 3 most significant contributing factors are believed to be: 1. (For women) Low levels of estrogen. 2. Insufficient amounts of calcium & vitamin D in the diet. Calcium is vital to the development & maintenance of strong bones and vitamin D is required to absorb calcium from the foods we eat. 3. Lack of physical activity is believed to contribute to lower bone density because the skeleton is not being taxed enough to stimulate new bone growth. |
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According
to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the following are
preferred weight bearing exercises: |
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