Are there things that individuals with osteoporosis can do to prevent further bone damage?
Every women in menopause should make sure that they get enough calcium and vitamin D. There are some foods that are high in calcium but most people need to take calcium supplements. Most people don’t realize that sufficient levels of vitamin D is necessary for the body to make new bone; and that a significant number of women are vitamin D deficient. The majority of our vitamin D (80 to 95%) comes from exposure to sunlight. Since most people work indoors and use sunscreen (which decreases our production or vitamin D by more than 95 percent), many individuals require vitamin D enriched foods or multivitamins to get enough vitamin D. All women should do 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise three times a week to increase the strength of their bones. Women with osteoporosis also should not smoke or drink too much alcohol.
