Brittle Bones: Will Adapting Your Life Protect Your Bones

Eating well and exercising can boost wellness and protect us from many different health conditions, although a new study reveals more ways we can safeguard ourselves from brittle bones. Our skeleton requires a good level of calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones, with more nutrients being proven to benefit our wellbeing every day, so what else can we do to reduce osteoporosis?

Who gets it?

Figures show that nearly all of us can get brittle bones, including men, women the young and old. Bone health is affected a lot by our age and hormones so the condition is more often linked with older females. This is because a drop in some hormones over time contributes to a reduction in our bone mineral density. These facts recently motivated Portugal’s Polytechnic Institute of Braganca to investigate risk factors for osteoporosis by looking at incidences of the disease in 127 women. Researchers from the institute explained that they wanted to address a common public health problem that can prove fatal for those of us who get complications after a fracture.

When do we have it?

We’re given a diagnosis of osteoporosis when our bone mineral density (BMD) falls below average, But not all clinicians across the world believe BMD is a good enough indicator of the condition. Now the study reveals there are more ways to help clinicians decide if we have the syndrome or if we are at risk of it.

The research revealed that our age, sedentary lifestyles, whether we drink coffee or not, are all predictors of brittle bones. The study also showed that BMD and removal of ovaries were also linked with higher rates of fractures. Clinicians from the institute explained that their project gives doctors more ways to decide whether we may develop brittle bones, so we can be started on preventative treatments earlier and preserve bone mass.