May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month in the US. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle, increasing the risk of fractures, particularly in the thoracic & lumbar spine, hips, and wrists. It is the most common bone disease in the United States, affecting more than 10 million Americans.
Osteoporosis comes from Greek, literally meaning “porous bones.” If you have a diagnosis of osteoporosis, that means that your bones are around 25% weaker. Picture a dense sponge, and then take away 25% of the internal structure. That’s what happens to the inside of your bones.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
There are many risk factors for osteoporosis, including age, gender, family history, race, and certain medical conditions. Post-menopausal women are most at risk, as estrogen helps build bone. Women with a slight build also tend to have a greater risk.
While men do get osteoporosis, women have a higher risk.
Reducing Your Risk of Osteoporosis
The good news is that there are quite a few things you can do to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, such as:
- Eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of protein, good fats, healthy carbs, calcium, and vitamin D
- Getting regular weight bearing, bone loading exercise – walking, running, weight training, Pilates, yoga, dancing
- Not smoking
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Taking medications, including hormone replacement, if you are at high risk for osteoporosis
If you are concerned about your bone health, your doctor can help you assess your risk and develop a plan to keep your bones strong and healthy.
Participate In Osteoporosis Awareness Month
Here are some ways that you can participate in Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month:
- Talk to your friends and family about osteoporosis. Share resources.
- Share factual information about osteoporosis on social media.
- Wear blue to show your support for osteoporosis awareness.
- Attend an osteoporosis event in your community.
- Donate to an osteoporosis organization.
By raising awareness about osteoporosis, we can help more people understand the risks of this disease and take steps to protect their bone health. As we live longer, this is especially important to maintain quality of life for as long as possible.
Additional Resources
There are several reputable organizations that offer support, research, and education, including the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
In addition, I teach a free, donation-based course as part of The Wellness Universe Wellness for All programming. This course, Exercise for Bone Health, Strength, & Mobility, meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month through August 2023.
All sessions are recorded, so if you register now you’ll have access to nine recorded classes, which also contain workouts, and can attend the last three sessions live.
Register here –
If you’re interested in trying Pilates online or live, check out my Strong Bones Pilates programming – https://lyndalippin.com/strong-bones-online-pilates-studio – where you’ll find live online classes, as well as online private sessions and workshops.
Connect with Lynda on The Wellness Universe.
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