Osteoporosis is a disease that directly affects our bones, leading to decreased absorption of minerals such as calcium. It is much more common in elderly people, mainly because our bones wear down over time. In other words, the older you get, the more worn your bones will be and the more likely you are to develop osteoporosis.

It is natural for your bones to become weaker throughout your life, but the more severe your osteoporosis, the worse the consequences of a fall can be, ranging from months of hospitalization due to one or more broken bones or even death.

Despite this, several studies show that women suffer from this disease more than men do. This happens because after menopause, the production of the female sex hormone, estrogen, drops dramatically.

One of the main functions of estrogen is to deposit calcium in the bones, so it’s easy to see that women’s bones weaken significantly after menopause. For this reason, various precautions should be taken as women age.

Ways to Prevent Worsening

There are several ways to prevent osteoporosis from affecting you or leading to complications from the disease. The main measures are:

  • Use rugs that are secured to the floor;
  • Avoid going up and down stairs often;
  • Avoid leaving the floor wet or use non-slip flooring;
  • Wear shoes with non-slip soles;
  • Always use handrails whenever possible.

These tips help avoid falls and, consequently, more serious issues related to osteoporosis. But you don’t have to wait until you’re older to take care and prevent this disease. In fact, the earlier you realize osteoporosis could become a problem in your life, the more likely it won’t be.

ATTENTION: Someone who suffers from osteoporosis should not be left alone at home for long periods, especially in homes that are not adapted to their needs. Ideally, the person should always have relatives and friends nearby who can help at any time, even if they don’t live in the same house.

What Causes Osteoporosis?

Besides the low estrogen production due to menopause, several other factors can contribute to a woman developing osteoporosis. Bad habits such as a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and heavy alcohol use throughout life, poor diet, and excessive use of medications containing aluminum hydroxide can all make it more likely that osteoporosis will develop in the future.

Excessive physical exercise over a long period of time can also contribute to the development of osteoporosis. That’s because certain types of exercise, like marathons, for example, end up reducing the production of estrogen in women’s bodies.

Genetic conditions can influence how easily you may develop osteoporosis, but this is not the most influential factor and isn’t a guarantee that you will or will not develop osteoporosis as you get older.

How to Prevent Osteoporosis

It’s very common for women not to know they have osteoporosis until they suffer an accident where a bone breaks. That’s because often there are no obvious symptoms.

Diagnosis

That’s why it’s always important to prevent falls and anything that might cause a bone fracture as people age, especially women, since osteoporosis is more common among them. The disease is usually diagnosed after an X-ray examination.

Even in your youth, it’s important to be aware that your bones will start to weaken at some point, and you can do something about it. Avoiding the bad habits mentioned above is a good start. Eating too much meat, drinking coffee, and consuming foods high in salt is harmful and can speed up the development of osteoporosis.

Regular appointments with a gynecologist, especially after menopause, are important so that you can anticipate possible problems and treat them before they cause harm to your health.

How Is Osteoporosis Treated?

You can’t always prevent osteoporosis from affecting your life, but there are treatments that help improve the symptoms of the disease and strengthen your bones. Hormone replacement therapy (or HRT) is the most effective way for a woman’s body to start producing more estrogen again and, consequently, strengthen her bones. However, this type of treatment is contraindicated in many situations and may not be recommended for you.

Several types of medications that help strengthen the bones also aid in treatment, but you need to consult your doctor to find out which treatment will work best for you without affecting other aspects of your health.

Foods That Help with Osteoporosis

However, since osteoporosis is more common in women, it’s always good to have a healthy diet, preferably rich in calcium and vitamin D. Some foods that can help both prevent the disease and strengthen your bones during treatment are:

  • Milk and dairy products
  • Fish like sardines, salmon, and tuna.
  • Nuts and chestnuts
  • Herbal seasonings such as basil and oregano
  • Cod liver oil
  • Liver steak

It’s true that osteoporosis is more common in women than men, but that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily develop the disease severely, as a lot also depends on the habits you have maintained throughout your life. That’s why it’s always a good idea to prevent osteoporosis as early as possible so that nothing serious happens if you start having problems later on.

At some point in your life it is inevitable that your bones will get weaker, but that doesn’t mean you will be seriously affected by osteoporosis or that it will interfere with your life. In most cases, good treatment along with all the right care and prevention enables a peaceful life even for those who suffer constantly from osteoporosis.

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