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Treatment
Osteopenia is treated by taking preventative steps to keep it from progressing to osteoporosis and, for a few people, by taking medication. Lifestyle changes can help reduce the bone loss that leads to osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Diet is very important to bone development. Calcium is the most critical mineral for bone mass. Your best sources of calcium are milk and other dairy products, green vegetables, and calcium-enriched products.
Your health professional may also want you to take a calcium supplement, often combined with vitamin D. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and other minerals. It is found in eggs, salmon, sardines, swordfish, and some fish oils. It is added to milk and can be taken in calcium and vitamin supplements. In addition to what you take in from food, your body makes vitamin D in response to sunlight.
Exercise is important in maintaining strong bones, because bone forms in response to stress. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, hiking, and dancing are all good choices.
Adding exercise with light weights or elastic bands can help the bones in the upper body. Talk to your health professional or a physiotherapist about starting an exercise program.
In addition to diet and exercise, quitting smoking and avoiding excessive use of alcohol, caffeine and colas will also reduce your risk of bone loss.
There are medications available to treat bone thinning, but these are more commonly used if you have progressed past osteopenia to the more serious condition of osteoporosis. Medications that may be used for osteopenia include bisphosphonates, raloxifene (Evista), and hormone replacement. For more information on these medications, see the topic Osteoporosis.
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Why Are America’s Bones Shrinking
by Thomas G. Kotronis, Rph |
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