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Why Do We Lose Bone Density?

Low bone density (osteoporosis) puts many women above the age of 50 or after menopause at risk for bone fractures. While there is very little you can do to treat osteoporosis, there are preventative measures you can take to lower your risk of developing this condition.

Bone density, also called bone mass, continues to grow from childhood through to early adulthood in both men and women. After that, both men and women start to lose bone density at a very gradual rate until women reach menopause, where there is a dramatic decrease in bone density for several years.

What causes this dramatic decrease in bone density? Bones are made of calcium and other minerals that make them strong. As you grow, bones are in a constant state of repair and renewal. Once you reach your thirties, you start to lose bone mass, but there are physical processes, habits and behaviours that increase the risk of bone loss and osteoporosis, especially in women. These include:

• Decrease in levels of hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men)

• Smoking

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Lack of exercise

• Lack of calcium and vitamin D in diet

• Genetics

• Medications

• Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer, especially breast and prostate cancers

• Being small and thin in stature

• Anorexia

Although osteoporosis cannot be cured once you have it, there are certain things you can do to slow down both the rate and level of bone loss. Exercise, modifying your diet, increasing vitamin D and calcium intake or taking supplements (calcium citrate), quitting smoking and closely monitoring alcohol consumption can slow down the rate at which bone loss occurs.

Many are under the false impression that you cannot have chiropractic care with osteoporosis. On the contrary, chiropractors are skilled in giving low-force adjustments to patients with osteoporosis. In addition, we may be able to suggest certain supplements or weight-bearing exercises that slow the rate of further bone loss. Please feel free to talk to us about any concerns you might have.