Photo: thebone / Flickr

It’s thought that around 3 million people in the UK have osteoporosis. It affects the bones, making them weak and fragile. People with osteoporosis have over 230,000 fractures a year because of this weakening. The good news is that bone is a living tissue that constantly rebuilds itself, meaning that osteoporosis can be prevented, and even halted if caught in the early stages. Read on to find out whether you’re at risk.

Fractures

Having a fracture that seems too severe for the circumstances or having more than one fracture in the last two years is a definite cause for concern. It can be a sign of ostopoenia, a mild form of osteoporosis. Your doctor can arrange for you to have a bone density test to measure how healthy your bones are and suggest appropriate treatment.

Drinking

Alcohol weakens the bones, leaching calcium and other minerals from them. The more you drink, the more damage you do. Women are particularly vulnerable to bone loss caused by drinking and experts recommend drinking no more than two units of alcohol a day. That translates to two glasses of wine.

Smoking

Experts don’t know how smoking harms bones, but the evidence that it does is clear. If you’ve smoked throughout your adult life, the chances that you’ve damaged your bones are very high. The good news is that no matter how old you are when you quit, your body will start recovering.

You don’t drink milk or fortified substitutes

If you’re vegan or lactose-intolerant you’re missing out on all the bone-building calcium and vitamin D in milk and dairy products. The majority of Brits are already deficient in vitamin D, which puts them further at risk for osteoporosis. Be sure to use a milk replacement product that is fortified with calcium and vitamin D.

As your bones are constantly rebuilding themselves, a calcium supplement that also contains vitamin D and magnesium can help prevent osteoporosis. It’s never too late to start taking one.

Tags: health, minerals, vitamins