Everything Related to Orthopedics
Preventative Medicine
The Facts About Bone Density
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An important aspect of bone and joint health is bone density. Your bone density is basically how much matter is comprised in a square centimeter of bone. Getting a bone density test is very easy and 
relatively painless. The test involves a minimal amount of radiation and doctors typically scan the lower part of the spine or the hip. Getting a bone density test can be a vital part of your overall health picture and can aid in preventing bone diseases like osteoporosis.
People who have low bone density are at a high risk for not just osteoporosis but also fracture. Women are generally at higher risk for bone loss than men and should be screened regularly. Women over the age of 65 or younger women who are postmenopausal are at a high risk as well. Other risk factors for bone loss include a history of eating disorders or anyone who has had weight loss surgery. Patients who have this in their medical history have been shown to lose bone density after surgery or a long battle with an eating disorder.
There are ways to increase your bone density and even prevent it. First, pay close attention to your diet. Certain vitamins like Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin K are a huge part of bone health. Always get plenty of exercise – a healthy body all around is at a lower risk for bone loss. Finally, be careful with weight loss. Extreme loss of weight in a short amount of time can cause bone loss. If you are on a severe weight loss plan or have had surgery, make sure your diet is fully balanced with all of the nutrition your body needs.
How to Keep Your Bones Healthy
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It’s no secret that the best way to keep yourself active and healthy well into your golden years is prevention. Eating right, exercising and maintaining your body’s overall health will keep you moving like a well oiled machine for years. Even though we all know what we should be doing, it never hurts to have some guidance along the way to make sure we are staying on the right track. So, here are some ways to keep your bones healthy and strong.
Watch your diet – while it is pretty common knowledge that calcium is the most important vitamin for healthy bones, there are other ways to supplement your diet. First, make sure you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. These are broken down by your body differently than proteins. Studies have shown that people who had 8-9 servings of fruits and veggies a day had significantly less calcium 
loss than those who didn’t. Don’t forget you still need a high level of calcium intake every day though. If you aren’t a fan of milk, don’t worry, there are other ways to get calcium. Foods that are dark green in color like spinach, kale and turnip greens are rich in calcium.
Exercise Right – exercise in general is healthy for you but, there are different ways to exercise depending on what you are trying to achieve. Most people tend to do cardio exercises which are great for your heart and muscles but won’t do much for keeping your bones strong. Any exercise involving weight 
on your legs and feet are great for healthy bones. Walking or water aerobics with weights on the ankles are a perfect example. Do flexibility exercises as well such as lunges and squats and pull out those dumbbells for an all around healthy exercise routine.
