Primary Care Tips to Keep Your Bones Healthy

Your bones need primary care efforts to stay healthy. With aging, it is a normal phenomenon for the bones to diminish in density and become thinner. Eventually, they become more vulnerable to injuries or fractures.

In this article, you will discover important primary care tips to preserve the health of your bones and prevent osteopenia (bone thinning) and osteoporosis.

Primary care tips

Consume lots of vegetables

Vegetables are rich in vitamin C, which triggers the production of bone-forming cells. Both green and yellow veggies have been proven to contribute to bone mineralization.

Strength training

Strength training exercises are particularly vital for patients dealing with joint conditions around the lower extremities. These include knee or hip arthritis and may inhibit your strength and ability to engage in weight-related exercises. The major point is resistance training or bone loading. This means lifting weights repeatedly can contribute to healthy bones, an essential benefit of strength training, which aims to heighten their weight resistance.

Begin your strength training by performing one or two sets of 10 to 12 repetitions, continuing until you feel tired and intensifying the exercise as you go. To gain optimal advantages with lower risks, practice proper breathing and use the right techniques for safe lifting. Ideally, you should consult a fitness professional before commencing a strength training regimen.

Vitamin D

For efficient calcium absorption, most adults require between 1000 to 2000 IU of vitamin D every day. Pills combining calcium and vitamin D do not contain enough. You can get your daily need of vitamin D the old-fashioned way – from the sun – or by taking vitamin D supplements.

Start weight-bearing exercises

Weight-bearing exercise is described as an activity that causes you to work against gravity or present resistance with movement. High-impact weight-bearing exercises are great for bone health. You should be cautious with these if you already have osteoporosis or osteopenia.

Examples of these exercises include stair climbing, dancing, running or jogging, high-impact aerobics and sports such as basketball and tennis. Ensure you consult your doctor before engaging in any exercise routine.

Curb excessive drinking and smoking

Tobacco use and excessive alcoholism have been linked to loss of bone mineral density. If you smoke, consider enrolling in a smoking cessation program. If you drink, consider limiting your consumption.

Go for routine bone mineral density checks

Doctors can obtain a fast and painless image of your bone health by using an easy X-ray test known as DXA. The test checks your bone mineral density and evaluates the risks of fracture and osteoporosis. Women are advised to get the test within two years following menopause.

Patients that are suffering from certain bone-related conditions and those taking medications that increases risk (such as steroid therapy) should get tested earlier.

Finally

As part of their primary care routine for bones, perimenopausal women can opt for hormone therapy to boost decreasing estrogen levels. This decrease is associated with bone loss. Also, patients already living with osteopenia and osteoporosis can use different drugs to avert risky hips and spine fractures.

Remember to always discuss with your doctor first before embarking on any therapy.

Call us today at (973) 859-9165 for more information from Center for Adult Medicine and Preventive Care.

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