Menopause and Osteoporosis Risk: Here’s how you can fight it!
“Start increasing your calcium intake once you hit 30”.
You might have heard or read this many times. Women go through major hormonal changes throughout their life, including menopause. One risk that is commonly associated with it is Osteoporosis or weakening of bones. This disease is often termed as a silent threat, and it is.
Menopause and Osteoporosis risk go hand in hand. Thus, it is better to prevent it before the serious consequences hit you. Scroll down to learn about preventing osteoporosis in menopausal women to build a strong bone legacy!
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a very common disease in women who cross menopause. The word “Osteoporosis” means porous bones. When women hit menopause, the levels of estrogen,the hormone associated with bone strength, decline. Estrogen maintains bone density and limits bone contraction. Hence a fall in estrogen can cause a significant diminishing of bone density, escalating the risk of fractures and pain. This is why bone health during menopause deteriorates significantly.
How are Menopause and Osteoporosis risk related?
Women experience major hormonal changes during menopause. One of the most prominent changes is a decrease in estrogen levels, which are associated with reproductive health, cognition, bone density, and cardiovascular system. Hence, bone health during menopause takes a huge toll. As per various medical research, common trends, and surveys, women observe a dangerous decrease in bone density within 5 to 10 years around menopause. It is then that menopause and osteoporosis risk start acting up. Thus, it is highly common for women to get diagnosed with Osteoporosis as compared to men. Therefore, it is important for them to understand the connectivity and consequences of menopause and osteoporosis risk.
Why is Osteoporosis dangerous?
Known as a silent threat, the consequences of Osteoporosis are not very quiet. Decreasing bone health during menopause can cause serious consequences. Some of the most common impacts of this disease are hip fractures, spinal fractures, and wrist fractures. In severe cases, paralysis and disability were also reported. Weakening bones not only puts you at a higher risk of fractures but also hampers your daily ease. You can suffer from chronic pain, a decrease in mobility, shrinking of height, and posture hunching. In severe cases, you can experience disability and paralysis, increasing the death risk.
Fight against Osteoporosis: A Step towards a Fracture-Free Future
Osteoporosis cannot be cured entirely. Therefore, it is always better to prevent it. Hiking your calcium intake during menopause can be a start but there are many more ways by which women can avert bone weakening. The best one is to attend to bone health during menopause. Here are a few ways by which you can prevent Osteoporosis by simply making some changes before and during menopause:
- Supercharge your health with a nutrition boost: Increasing calcium intake during menopause is not enough to fight osteoporosis. You also need to add vitamin D, protein, magnesium, and zinc to your diet in order to see visible results in your bone strength. This can easily help in preventing osteoporosis in menopausal women.
- Transform your life with the power of exercise: Exercises in weight bearing, muscle strengthening, and balance training can make all the difference you desire. You can opt for walking, dancing, yoga, pilates, and strength training to keep your bones healthier and prevent from falling. This can help you easily handle the menopause and osteoporosis risk that it brings with itself.
- Healthy habits, happier bones: Alcohol consumption and smoking can considerably interfere with your bone strength. Therefore, you must decide to reduce the intake and limit their effects on your body. Maintaining a healthy weight will also work in the direction of stabilizing your bone health during menopause.
- Stay steady for strong bones: In order to avoid falling and succumbing to the risk of fractures, you should focus on avoiding situations that can lead to an injury. Thus, always keep your space well-lit and injury proof. Even though this measure is not directly related to menopause and osteoporosis risk, it can still help you attain immunity from the possibility of fractures.
To put it all together, Menopause and Osteoporosis risk is a collaboration that you would like to escape at all times. This disease is deadlier than it seems. Bad bone health during menopause can cause serious repercussions. Therefore, you should always take steps in the direction of preventing them by following prudent measures. Preventing osteoporosis in menopausal women just requires a little attention and discipline. For starters, you can begin by increasing your calcium intake during menopause, exercising, and consulting your endocrinologist or orthopedist.
Consult our medical experts now at https://www.yashodahospital.org/# and get insights on how you can not only prevent osteoporosis risk but also make your bones stronger and healthier.