18th October is the World Menopause Day

The theme for this year’s World Menopause Day 2021 is Bone Health.

1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime –  The  International Osteoporosis Foundation

Why is bone
health important?

According to WHO, it is an
under-recognized public health concern that needs immediate attention. With an aging population and longer life span,
osteoporosis is increasingly becoming a global epidemic.

According to the Arthritis
Foundation, women lose nearly half of their trabecular
bone over their lifespan. In addition,
women lose 30 percent of the denser tissue that preserves bones. The majority
of the loss occurs within the first decade after menopause, but after the age
of 50, both men and women lose 0.5 percent of their bone density every year.

‘The decline in estrogen levels that happens during menopause in women causes increased bone loss, which can raise the risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become thin and easily fracture,’ says Tanvi Sharma, Co-Founder, Unpause life, a platform that brings information and solutions to women to thrive in their midlife.

It is, however, never too late to
execute a bone health action plan, and in fact, one should get up, get moving,
and devise a strategy to maintain bones as strong as possible.

How to preserve bone health?

1.  A balanced diet and good nutrition

Although there are no particular
guidelines for iron, calcium, or vitamin D intake during menopause, a
well-balanced diet that includes calcium, summer sunlight, and vitamin D
supplements can help decrease the pace of bone loss.

• Lean red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, leafy
  green vegetables, nuts, and fortified grain products all contain iron.
• Calcium helps create strong bones and is
  present in dairy products, fish with bones (such as sardines and canned
  salmon), broccoli, and legumes.
• Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption.
  Some fatty fish, beef liver, eggs, and fortified packaged foods, such as
  cereal, are good sources of vitamin D.
• After menopause or reaching the age of 50, the
  National
  Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF)
  advises increasing the amount to 1,200 mg of calcium each day. Because it is
  difficult to acquire enough calcium and vitamin D, one should consult their
  doctor about taking supplements to preserve bone health.

2. Exercise is a key component

The most essential bone workout is acquiring and maintaining proper posture. You can also create a strategy for weight-bearing, strength training, and balancing activities. It is suggested to exercise for 30 to 40 minutes on most days of the week.

Weight-bearing exercise includes
exercises such as:

• Brisk walking with a backpack to strengthen
  your ankles, knees, and hips.
• Lunges (forward, sideways, and backward) are
  very useful in lowering the risk of falling because they maintain muscular
  strength, agility, and balance.

Strength-training exercises can include
the use of resistance machines or inexpensive equipment which are as follows:

• Use of resistance bands, free weights, or
  barbells.
• Specific muscle groups (the major extensor
  muscles of the back; hip flexors and extensors; thigh, upper arm, and forearm
  muscles) are targeted to influence regions of the skeleton most commonly
  involved in osteoporotic fractures.
• Performing mild spinal extension exercises
  when seated (sit tall, gaze up at the ceiling, and arch your back) and raise
  the lower ribs of the pelvis to strengthen the back.

Balance exercises should begin with a
chair for support, especially if one already has osteoporosis.

• Standing on one foot at a time while gripping
  the chair and work your way up to balancing on one foot without needing the chair.
• Advanced exercises such as tai chi and yoga
  enhance muscle strength, flexibility, and balance.
• Yoga can be both helpful and dangerous. There
  is some debate over the safety of certain of yoga’s spine-twisting postures.

Other sociable options include aerobics
and dance that will increase flexibility and result in healthy bones.

3. Schedule a bone density scan

A bone density scan is a low-dose
X-ray of the hips and spine that measures the calcium and other minerals in the
bones. While regular screening should begin at 65, the doctor may prescribe
earlier tests if one is at high risk due to family history or long-term use of
bone-thinning medicines like corticosteroids. If women don’t get a bone density
scan or break a bone, they may not know they have osteoporosis until they have
significant consequences.

4. Quit Bad Habits

Certain lifestyle habits can affect
your bone health.

• Women should drink only in moderation as
  alcohol might reduce their body’s capacity to absorb calcium. If they want to
  consume alcoholic beverages, make sure they do it in moderation.
• Smoking can decrease bone density at a faster
  rate and so cutting such habits out of life is not only good for bones but also
  the overall health and well-being.
• Caffeine increases the rate at which the body
  excretes calcium, so limit the intake. Avoid high-caffeine energy drinks and
  reduce intake of caffeinated beverages such as normal coffee, tea, and
  carbonated soft drinks.
• Like caffeine and alcohol, salty meals, can
  deplete calcium stores and hasten bone deterioration. According to a study
  published in the journal Osteoporosis International in January 2017, postmenopausal women who
  drink a lot of salt are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Generally,
  processed, and canned meals include a lot of salt, so try to minimize the
  intake of these items. While eating packaged foods, look for low-sodium or
  no-salt-added varieties.