Help Prevent Osteoporosis: "Love Your Bones: Protect Your Future"
Approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis. Find out how you can keep strong bones.
Oct 21, 2016
Aug 14, 2023
Your HealthJudy Freedman is an award-winning lifestyle blogger and social media influencer for baby boomers and midlife marketplace. Certified yoga and meditation instructor for individual and group classes. Highly-experienced creative communications professional with strong writing and presentation skills. Knowledgeable in array of branding, CMS, multi-media, and design techniques.
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"Did you have your bone density scan?" asked Dr. S during my annual gynecological examination earlier this year.
"Yep, I had my last scan in February 2015, and it indicated that I had osteopenia, a lesser degree of bone loss, which may lead to osteoporosis."
"OK," said Dr. S. "No medication is indicated at this time." Dr. S recommended that I get a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan every two years to check my bone health.
I felt relieved but wanted to know more about how I could help prevent osteoporosis, a chronic disease of the bones, during my life after 50. That's why when
Hologic, Inc., a leading global health care and diagnostics company with a focus on women's consumer health, asked if I would participate in their sponsored campaign, I said "yes."
The Statistics Are Startling
According to the
National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis. Furthermore, estrogen, a hormone in women that protects bones, decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can cause bone loss. (Isn't it enough that I have sleepless nights due to my lack of estrogen? Now my bones are less protected, too!)
In addition, figures from a recent Harris Poll, Omnibus Survey on Osteoporosis (April 7-11, 2016) reveal 71 percent of Americans say they are aware of the effects that osteoporosis can have on their health, yet only 52 percent report taking any steps to prevent it.
Wow-o-wow! These are startling statistics. And the sad part is that many women (and men, too) can help prevent this disease by following some simple tips.
Celebrate Strong Bones
World Osteoporosis Day 2016 was October 20, and National Osteoporosis Month will be in May, but every day is a good time to pay attention to bone health, as indicated in the theme of this year's campaign: "Love Your Bones: Protect Your Future."
So boomer girls, are you ready to take action to curb your bone loss? Promise me that you won't just read the words of advice. Please practice what
Dr. Andrea Singer, director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, says and "play an important role in your bone health." Awareness is half the battle—prevention is the key.
The
National Osteoporosis Foundation offers the following pointers to aid you in "breaking free" from osteoporosis:
I do planks in yoga for strength training.
How are your risk factors? For more information on osteoporosis prevention check out
boneawareness.com and the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Make a promise to yourself today to become an advocate for your health and wellness during your post-50 years.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hologic, Inc. Hologic is sponsoring this post because the company is a leading developer of innovative health care products that enable women to lead healthier lives, everywhere, every day. To learn more about osteoporosis through Hologic, visit
boneawareness.com, a website that Hologic launched in honor of National Osteoporosis Month (May).
This post originally appeared on
aboomerslifeafter50.com.