I was diagnosed with osteopenia at 34 and have been taking 500 mg of Calcichew twice daily. I am 58, and for the past three years I’ve had osteoporosis, despite exercising daily; I stopped taking the bisphosphonates I’d been prescribed due to side-effects. What can I do to prevent further deterioration of my bones?
Anne-Marie Newby, via email.
Taking calcium supplements such as Calcichew will help protect the bones. However, as your letter highlights, these alone are not enough.
Bone health depends on various lifestyle factors, including avoiding excess alcohol and smoking. And then, as you mention, there is exercise.
This is one of the most important protective steps you can take, although it’s worth noting that not all exercise is equal when it comes to bone strength.
For healthy bones, you need to be doing exercise three times a week. This should be weight-bearing, because this puts stress on the bone, which triggers the growth of more bone.
Weight-bearing exercise means you work against gravity. Swimming and cycling, for instance, don’t really count in this context; yoga,…
