Dr. Dave Explains: Osteoporosis

Today we continue to explore common health concerns as Dr. Dave Strobel briefly describes osteoporosis and gives some advice on how you can prevent or even potentially undo osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is essentially the weakening of bones due to the body being unable to keep up with the wear and tear of life. It is most common among women as they get older, generally starting in their fifties or sixties, though men can also suffer from it later in life.

Diseases such as Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and other intestinal diseases can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis as you get older. This is because they can reduce the body's ability to absorb nutrients, including calcium, which is the basic building block of your bones.

Calcium alone is not likely enough to stave off osteoporosis, particularly if you are already in the age range most at risk of developing it. There are other supplements that increase the effectiveness of calcium in your bones. These include vitamin D (which you can learn more about in our learning module about it), vitamin K2, and magnesium.

A critical thing to remember: even if you have all the calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and magnesium you need, your body won't use them unless you tell it to. As it is with most aspects of personal healthcare, exercise is a vital part of preventing and managing osteoporosis. Stress on the bones, such as the kind that they undergo during moderate exercise, tells the body to reinforce those bones to better withstand that stress.

This video is a brief overview of the basics of osteoporosis and how to treat it. It is taken from our learning module on the subject which goes into greater depth on how to prevent and manage osteoporosis, as well as sharing some helpful exercises to strengthen your bones. This video, as well as all our other learning modules, are available to Premium members.

Note: These videos are presented for educational purposes only. Your use of this site does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Specific medical advice is only offered through membership in HELPcare Clinic.

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John Aase

John is part of HELPcare’s content development team and lives with his wife Bella in Plymouth, Minnesota. He is an MFA candidate at Hamline University.