Good bones

There's a lot of fearmongering when it comes to the risk of fractures in older women, says Marcelle Pick. Here's what you need to know and how to look after your bones naturally

- Marcelle Pick

The fear of breaking a bone is a big concern for many of the women I see—and with good reason.

Fracturing a major bone, such as the pelvis, hip or spine, can be debilitating. And the media sends terrifying messages about the risk of fracture in women.

It seems like every time you turn on the TV, there’s another celebrity endorsement for a “magic pill” that will protect your bones from withering away.

Or there are experts emphatically telling you to heed their advice or risk joining the purported 50 percent of women over age 50 who have an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime.

But let’s pause for just a minute before you panic. I’ve found that these numbers highlighting the prevalence of fractures due to osteoporosis just don’t match up with what I know.

First, even the experts can’t agree on a number. The estimates range from 30 to 50 percent of women over age 50 who have osteoporosis-related fractures at some point in the remainder of their lives; that’s a fairly big difference in numbers. Add to that the fact that many of these fractures are far less serious than you may have been led to believe, and the fear factor may drop considerably.

This, of course, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of what happens to your bones as you age. There are steps you can take to reduce your risk, and if you do find yourself with a fracture, there are natural ways to help your body heal.

Fracture risk factors

Many factors can increase your risk of fracture. Being aware of them is the first step toward better bone health.

Low bone density

You’ve probably heard something about the importance of bone density—maybe even more misleading statistics. But there are a few things you should know.