Introduction to Osteoporosis
Hey everyone, welcome back to Body + Soul Online. My name is Chris and today I will be talking about osteoporosis, what it is, causes and symptoms, who’s at risk and healthy living tips to prevent the onset of this disease and to keep your bones strong and healthy!
Let’s get started….
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis literally means “porous bone”, and refers to reduced bone density and/or the loss of bone tissue. Healthy bone, under a microscope, looks like a honeycomb, whereas when osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb become much larger than healthy bone. As a result, bones become brittle, less dense, weak and may break more easily from a fall or bump. About 50% of women and 25% of men over the age of 50 will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture.
Signs + Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Early signs of osteoporosis can be easily found in your mouth. It’s important to pay attention to receding gum lines, chipped, cracked or loose teeth.
These have been shown to have a strong correlation with low bone density in your jaw. So, if you’re brushing your teeth and notice something is off, it’s best to get it checked out by your dentist. In general, to maintain and improve your oral health, make sure to see your dental hygienist every six months.
Other signs of this may include weak and brittle finger nails, fatigue, brain fog and weakness. Weakness may include decreased grip strength. A decreased grip strength has a correlation with osteoporosis. A sign of weakened grip strength is when you are picking something up and realize your finger nails are easily broken; in this case you may want to contact your doctor.
Goals of the Workshop
With this workshop I have a few simple goals for you. First, I want you to have a good understanding of the populations most at risk for osteoporosis and why. The ultimate goal though, is to provide you with healthy exercise and nutrition tips, and have you slowly implement each of them into your routine. By implementing my suggestions, it will help to mitigate the risk of osteoporosis, and help you lead the happy, healthy, and more active life of your dreams.
See you in the next part…
Chris Edwards
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What exactly is osteoporosis and who does it affect? How do I reduce my chances of developing osteoporosis? Explore the answers to these questions and more in this 5-part workshop. By the end of the series, you will be well equipped to build and maintain strong, healthy bones to prevent the onset of osteoporosis.
Now that you understand what osteoporosis is, and the early warning signs, it’s important to know who exactly is at risk. Join Chris as he explores some of the unchangeable and changeable risk factors for developing osteoporosis.
Having a regular exercise routine can greatly reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis. Chris discusses why this is, and suggests workouts and exercises to include in your routine to improve bone mass and strength.
The food you eat can have a direct impact on your bones. Chris navigates which food sources, nutrients and vitamins you should include in your diet to build and maintain strong bone density, and for your overall health.
In this final part in the osteoporosis series, Chris summarizes a few final tips to keep in mind to ensure your bones remain strong and healthy.