HEALTHY LIVING
GOOD BONES Don’t wait for a fracture to focus on bone health. BY LEAH CALL | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
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solid foundation is vital to the strength of a building. Similarly, our bones are the foundation for a strong, healthy body. Bones protect our organs and allow us to move and enjoy life. As we age, it is important to maintain bone health to prevent osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and increases the danger of fracture. While one in three women is at risk for fracture due to osteoporosis, it is preventable and treatable. “We know that as women age, fracture can be more serious … it can decrease longevity and increase morbidity,” says Deborah Prior, MD, general practitioner at Hirsch Clinic at Vernon Memorial Healthcare in Viroqua. Her focus on women’s health involves osteoporosis treatment, prevention and investigation with bone densitometry. Maintaining healthy bones is a lifelong commitment—especially for women, who have less bone mass than men and lose bone at a faster rate after menopause. Preventing osteoporosis begins at birth. “When we are young, that is when we lay down the most bone—up until about age 30,” explains Dr. Prior. After 30, women begin losing bone density. Risk factors, such as smoking, inadequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, and some medications, such as steroids, decrease bone density even further. Menopause itself is a major factor in bone loss because of the drop in estrogen, a hormone that protects bones. Gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, affect the absorption of vitamin D, putting women suffering those diseases at greater risk. DIET AND EXERCISE When Mom told you to drink your milk because it’s good for your bones, she was right. Calcium and vitamin D are the two must-haves when it comes to bone health. One cup of milk contains about 300 milligrams of calcium. Adult women need between 1,200 and 1,800 milligrams of calcium per day. Other dairy foods, including yogurt and cheeses, contain calcium, as do some leafy greens and broccoli. “A lot of people are not getting enough calcium in their diet, and they are not getting enough vitamin D, especially in Wisconsin in the winter,” says Dr. Prior,
18 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 www.crwmagazine.com
