Our Bone System Health

To keep our bones healthy, it is essential to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

What is the Bone system?

It is a set of bones that make up the skeleton and is part of the locomotor system. One of its functions is mechanical support, in addition to protecting the organs: skull (brain), thorax (lungs and heart).

Bone

The bone is an organ resistant to impacts, but at the same time it is light enough to move us with ease. The main reservoir of calcium in our body is found in the bones and helps us maintain a normal level of calcium in the blood. It is a living organ that is constantly in a state of formation and reabsorption.

It begins to lose bone when the reabsorption of calcium is greater than absorption. To keep our bones healthy, it is essential to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week. Exercise will not only improve bone quality, but it will strengthen muscle mass and give us more cushioning.

Peak bone mass: this is the amount of bone that we can achieve between the age of 20 and 25. It is important that children and adolescents consume calcium in a balanced diet and that they practice outdoor sports.

Osteoporosis

One in three women and one in five men over 50 have symptoms. Osteoporosis is the most frequent bone disease and one of the risk factors for fractures. Other risk factors: age of the patient, having had a previous fracture, family history of hip fracture of parents or siblings, smoking, alcoholism, having gone through a therapy with high corticosteroids, consumption of anticonvulsants, having type 1 diabetes, among other factors. Osteoporosis prevention strategies recommended to patients are: optimize peak bone mass in youth, preserve bone stock in adults and reduce the risk of falls.

Falls

5% of falls can lead to fractures. All falls, and the fragility of the bones, can lead to fractures. 36% of the elderly population falls annually, of this percentage 56% had previous falls. To avoid falls, we must consider all the relevant factors: disorders in the patient's progress, vision problems, neurological disorders and inadequate use of the walking cane. With these patients it is important to be careful with their environment in their home, that the house does not have other risks: objects to stumble on, pets and avoid walking in the dark.

This article was made with information taken from a workshop on "Health of our Bone System " conducted by Nutritionist. Maren Torheim and Dr. Miguel Tambler at the hospital in 2017.