What the Medical Experts Say About Bone Loss
To understand how to protect our bones, it helps to first understand what they are and how they work. Think of your bones as a living, dynamic bank account. Throughout your life, your body is constantly making “deposits” and “withdrawals” of bone tissue. This process is called remodeling.
Special cells called osteoblasts build new bone, while other cells called osteoclasts break down old bone. When we’re young, we build more bone than we lose, and our skeletal “bank account” grows. We reach our peak bone mass, or the strongest our bones will ever be, around age 30.
After that, the balance slowly begins to shift. Our bodies may start to break down old bone faster than we create new bone. This gradual process leads to bone thinning. If this loss becomes significant, it can lead to a condition called osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis literally means “porous bone.” It’s a condition where bones become weak and brittle, making them much more likely to break from a minor fall or even a simple sneeze. This is why preventing falls and maintaining bone density is a primary focus of healthy aging. While factors like age, gender (women are at higher risk after menopause), and family history play a role, experts agree that our senior lifestyle choices have a profound impact. The daily habits that cause osteoporosis to develop or worsen are often the very ones we have the power to change.
***
