Osteoporosis causes bones to lose mass and density. As the bones become porous and brittle, the chance of fracture is greatly increased. Often there are no symptoms and a person only discovers that they have osteoporosis when they suffer a fracture.
Heart disease includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart. They includes coronary artery disease (including heart attack), abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias, heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, vascular disease (blood vessel disease).
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. thus, it is essential to learn how prevent heart disease.
During menopause, many women are easily getting osteoporosis. Indeed, it would also be easy for them to get heart disease.
How is that?
Women, during menopause, might be lack of estrogen. This causes bones to lose calcium and become weaker, putting them at risk for severe bone loss or osteoporosis. A lack of estrogen also increases risk of heart disease.
However, there are steps you can do to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease, such as:
1. Get enough calcium to keep your bones strong. Before menopause, you need about 1,000 mg of calcium per day. After menopause, you need 1,500 mg per day. You also can talk with your physician about taking medicine to help preserve bone and slow down bone loss. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Try weight-bearing exercises, like walking, running, or dancing.
2. Eat healthy by including plenty of whole grain products, vegetables, and fruits in your diet. Choose a diet low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
3. Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your health care provider what a healthy weight is for you.
4. Control your blood pressure. Ask your health care provider what a healthy number is for you and how often you need it checked.
5. If you have diabetes, control and monitor your blood sugar levels.
6. Lower your cholesterol to the right level. Ask your health care provider what a healthy level is for you.
7. If you smoke, try to quit. Ask your health care provider for help or visit this special section of the NWHIC web site: www.4woman.gov/QuitSmoking
8. If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink per day.
So, if you think that your menopause has begun, it is important for you to pay attention to the eight essential ways to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.
