Banish Broken Bones
It’s a word that many younger mothers ignore, yet many older mothers cringe at the thought of it: Osteoporosis. This disease causes bones to become fragile and easily breakable. Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, according to www.NOF.org.
While many avoid thinking about osteoporosis until old age, women of all ages should begin to take precautions as soon as possible in order to prevent developing the disease. Amy Wheeler, a local mother of 4, developed osteopenia—an early stage of osteoporosis—in her 40s. Although she had no symptoms, she had a family history of the disease, which is a major risk factor. Here are three things women can do in order to prevent osteoporosis:
Stick to a healthy diet.
In order to strengthen your bones, make sure to get the recommended daily amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Wheeler says she takes calcium supplements, which have helped significantly, putting her bone mass back in the normal range. Stay away from excessive caffeine, protein and sodium, which all prevent the body from absorbing calcium.
Learn to enjoy exercise.
Living an inactive lifestyle can be a major risk factor for osteoporosis, so incorporating exercise into your daily schedule will minimize your chances of developing osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends women to engage in weight bearing and muscle strengthening exercises daily.
Get a bone density check.
Your risk of osteoporosis is much stronger if you have a family history of the disease. Wheeler says she has always exercised and kept a healthy diet, but because her mother had osteoporosis, Wheeler got a bone density test. The test showed that she had already developed some bone loss. “Don’t wait until menopause,” Wheeler says. “Get a bone density test. It can’t hurt to check.”
Amanda Blue is an intern for KC Parent Magazine. She is a sophomore at the University of Kansas where she is studying journalism.