Are You at Risk for Osteoporosis?

Posted on April 19, 2018

During National Osteoporosis Month in May, take time to learn about bone health and your risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that makes bones weaker and more likely to break. Anyone can get osteoporosis, but it’s most common in older women. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one in two women and up to one in four men will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis.

There are no signs or symptoms of osteoporosis, and you might not even know you have the disease until you break a bone. That’s why it is so important to get a bone density test to measure your bone strength.

Risk factors

You may be at higher risk for developing osteoporosis if you:

1. Have hormone changes (for example, menopause)
2. Don’t get enough calcium and Vitamin D in your diet
3. Aren’t getting enough physical activity or muscle-strengthening exercise
4. Take certain medications
5. Smoke cigarettes or drink too much alcohol

Ask your primary care provider about scheduling a bone density test and what steps you can take to prevent weak bones and lower your risk for osteoporosis.

Source: www.healthfinder.gov

Categories: MemberMatters - Medicare

Tags: bone denesity test, done disease, Osteoporosis