Factors in preventing (or delaying) osteoporosis include what?
R: There is a great website out there on osteoporosis; http://www.nof.org/prevention/. Calcium and vitamin D are cornerstones to preventing osteoporosis. Not smoking is another key factor. Smoking causes decreased blood flow to the bone and this can contribute to bone death. Drinking more than 2 drinks of alcohol or caffeine can also inhibit bone growth. Getting a bone density test which is a non invasive radiologic test is indicated for all women over age 65 and can be done sooner if risk factors are present. The test doesn’t fix osteoporosis, but it can indicate if it is present and how extensive bone loss is. It can help tailor treatment options. Exercise is important to keep normal bone growth similar to the mentality of if you don’t use it, you may lose it.
