Staying Healthy
4 steps to battle early signs of brittle bones
Here's how to take action against osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
If protecting your bones isn't already a top priority, a diagnosis of osteopenia will change that. Osteopenia is an indication that your bone density is decreasing, and that you're at increased risk for osteoporosis — a disease of thin, weak bones that can break easily and often.
Osteopenia can progress slowly or rapidly to osteoporosis, depending on your health. This realization brings the potential for fractures, disability, and a loss of independence into sharp focus. What can you do to avoid the risks?
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
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