Do's And Don'ts When You Have Osteoporosis

20 July 2017 by Brent Woods

Although nobody wants to get a bone disease like osteoporosis, the truth is that it is millions of people around the world are diagnosed with it each year. Around 54 million Americans are known to have osteoporosis. It happens when your body makes too little bone or loses too much bone. Sometimes it results from a combination of both.

Since the bones subsequently are weakened, you are more susceptible to bone breakage and other health problems. A break can be serious and sometimes leads to chronic, permanent pain in some people. It's important to be proactive about our health if you have osteoporosis. Consider these do's and don'ts to best protect your health and empower yourself to thrive:

Do Frequent Muscle-Bearing and Weight-Bearing Exercises

It's important for nearly everyone to exercise on a regular basis. However, some people with osteoporosis may be scared to do so because of a fear of falling or another worry related to the condition.

Those with this health condition should be exercising, though. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that you do both muscle-strengthening and weight-bearing exercises to build and maintain the density of your bones.

Don't Consume a Lot of Caffeine

Although this may be bad news to those who like to drink plenty of coffee in the morning, enjoy afternoon tea, or sip cola sodas with every meal, you should stay away from caffeine if you have osteoporosis.

These beverages (and others with caffeine) can reduce calcium absorption within your body, and it can contribute to further bone loss. It's best to avoid it altogether when possible. You may want to try another drink altogether or at least switch to caffeine-free alternatives.

Do Try to Live a Clean Lifestyle

If you smoke, it's time to give up the habit once and for all. Smoking is terrible for your overall health and can wreak havoc on your bones. It reduces the amount of calcium your bones will be able to absorb.

Smoking also lowers your estrogen levels. Since estrogen helps the bones hold nutrients that make them strong, a bad habit of smoking can you at further risk. If you have a hard time quitting, see your doctor about the many ways that it can be easier to leave the self-destructive habit behind.

Finally, keep in mind that you should talk to your doctor about osteoporosis and your current health. Your doctor may offer specific suggestions that are right for your overall health and offer insights about how to best safeguard your health while addressing osteoporosis now and in the future. It's possible to lead a healthy, happy life with osteoporosis, but it's important to be proactive about protecting your bones and your health. 

Contact a company like Sarasota Arthritis Center for more information and assistance. 

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