Menopause and Bone Density

January 15th, 2008

Menopause and bone density are two great concerns for aging women.

Menopause is a natural part of aging. Menopause usually occurs around the age of 50, and is signaled by the lack of menstruation for 12 consecutive months. You may experience some unpleasant symptoms, but generally natural menopause does not require any medical treatment and is not harmful.
Decreased bone density is where the bones become increasingly brittle and fracture easily. This is not normal and requires treatment.

The exact cause is unknown, but it is known how it progresses and what can be done to prevent it.

Bones are alive and are constantly breaking down and regrowing.
You have two types of bone: cortical and trabecular. Cortical bone is dense and encases the spongier trabecular bone.
The trabecular (spongy) bone becomes weak. The holes in the bone become unnaturally large, and the structure of the bone is compromised.
Until age 30, a woman generates more bone than is lost. After age 35, bone loss begins to outweigh bone growth.
Low levels of estrogen can also cause this. During menopause, lower levels of estrogen are produced.

Women over the age of 50 have the highest risk.
Family history plays a role.
Personal history of bone fractures also increases your risk.
Women under 127 pounds have an increased risk.
Caucasian and Asian women have the greatest risk, but women of African or Hispanic ancestry also carry significant risk.
Having anorexia or bulimia or exercising too much or not enough can cause bone loss.
A poor diet, especially one lacking in calcium and vitamin D can contribute to bone loss.
Certain medications can cause bone loss. Talk to your health practitioner to find out if any of your medications put you at risk.
Smoking!

There are simple lifestyle changes you can make to improve your bone health.

Get a moderate amount of exercise. Talk to your health practitioner to design a healthy exercise program including aerobic and weight bearing exercises to increase your bone health.
Eat a healthy diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D. 15-20 minutes of sun exposure per day is enough to keep your vitamin D levels healthy. Choose green leafy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats.
Take a womens multivitamin to ensure you get enough nutrients, especially calcium. Vita-Female is an excellent all-natural vitamin specially formulated for women’s needs.
Get a bone density scan before the age of 65 to check for potential bone loss problems.
Discuss bone health regularly with your health practitioner.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2005-mchi/2737.html

http://www.epigee.org/menopause/osteo.html

http://www.nof.org/prevention/risk.htm

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