osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become thin, frail and brittle, and may break easily. Women and older people are more prone to developing osteoporosis, although it can affect people of any age or gender.
The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases suggests these preventive measures for osteoporosis:
Eating a healthy, balanced diet that’s rich in vitamin D and calcium.
Getting frequent exercise that’s designed to help strengthen bones. Your doctor can recommend specific exercises.
Taking medications designed to prevent bone loss or increase bone mass.
Taking steps to prevent falls, which increase your chances of breaking a bone, such as the hip, wrist or spine. Such steps include removing clutter inside the home, wearing low-heeled shoes, securing rugs to the floor, and
installing grab bars in the bathroom.Worryingly, the researchers also found that these gene disruptions were still apparent after 30 days without alcohol, which equates to about three years in a human lifespan.
The findings, which are published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, suggest that the effects of binge-drinking on bone-related genes may be long-lasting.
Dr John Callaci, a bone biologist at Loyola University, warned that lifestyle-related damage to the skeleton during early adulthood “may have repercussions lasting decades”.
Arthritis Research UK is currently funding a clinical trial that seeks to establish whether giving vitamin D supplements to pregnant women increases the strength of their babies’ bones at birth and compare this against the effects of a healthy diet and exercise in childhood.
