Here at Matthews Internal Medicine, we’re always placing a big focus on preventative medicine. We can help cure or manage a disease, but our goal is to help prevent the development of it in the first place. One disease that we try to help our patients prevent is osteoporosis. This can affect many elderly people, and it has some risk factors that may surprise you. Some don’t realize that drinking too much alcohol can actually be a big factor.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disorder that can affect people when their body starts to lose too much bone or makes too little bone matter. This causes the bones to become brittle and weak. A small fall that may not have set you back in your younger days could have much more drastic effects if you’ve developed osteoporosis.
This is one of the most common diseases among older Americans. People with osteoporosis are at a serious risk of breaking their hips, spine, or other bones. They can also experience limited mobility and they can even lose height. That’s why we place such a big emphasis on osteoporosis prevention.
The Link To Alcohol
There are already a number of diseases that are linked to the development of osteoporosis. Everything from certain medical disorders to cancer to Parkinson’s disease could lead to this health condition. While some of these factors can be harder to control, there is one thing that you can control if you would like to try and prevent osteoporosis. We’re talking about your alcohol intake.
Consuming too much alcohol can cause a wide range of health problems, and after years of research it’s been confirmed that it can also have an effect on your bones. Chronic heavy alcohol use can affect how your body processes calcium. This nutrient is a critical building block for your bones. Just drinking a few ounces of alcohol every day can affect how your stomach and pancreas process nutrients. Alcohol also affects your liver, as you probably know, and this organ has a role to play in processing vitamin D.
Drinking to excess can also kill off osteoblasts, the cells that create more bone. In addition, it can affect hormone levels and further hurt calcium levels. People who abuse alcohol are more likely to fracture a bone and suffer nerve damage. Both of these medical issues can lead to even more problems later.
Osteoporosis Prevention
If you’re serious about osteoporosis prevention, there are a few important steps you can take. Cutting back on alcohol is an effective way to reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis. It’s also a good idea to try to have more calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Both of these nutrients contribute to bone health.
If you already have a disease or another risk factor that can commonly lead to the development of osteoporosis, it’s especially important to reduce your alcohol intake. It may feel good at the time, but drinking to excess can cause you painful problems later. Put our expertise in preventative medicine to work for you today.