Preventing Bone Loss in Menopausal Women
Just being a woman and entering menopause opens up the door to declining bone health and bone mineral density loss. Postmenopausal osteoporosis affects 1 out of 3 women. Estrogen deficiency leads to rapid bone loss. The current conventional healthcare model is not set-up to support the prevention of bone density loss, and often overlooks midlife women who need to start a proactive treatment plan that includes healthy lifestyle strategies.
According to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation:
“Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80% are women. Approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis. A woman's risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.”
Risk factors for osteoporosis include:
gender, age, smoking, poor diet, eating disorders, certain medications, if a woman has a specific disorder or disease related to bone loss, family history of bone loss, menopause, nutrient deficiencies, excessive alcohol use, and if she has lost 1.5” of height.
The gold standard for assessing one’s bone health is to get a DXA scan done (dual x-ray absorptiometry). A high and low energy x-ray beam (a form of ionizing radiation) passes through the body, usually in the hip and the spine, measuring both thickness and strength. The report contains details of your T-score and Y-score, determining what your bone health status is today compared to two different population groups. Health insurance typically does not cover the cost until a woman is 65 years old, but a doctor can order the test and possibly get it covered if there are risk factors present. There are walk-in clinics you can go to to pay out-of-pocket for that range from $150-$250.
How Can A Health Coach Support Bone Health?
A health coach holds you accountable. Whether it’s eating optimal amounts of daily protein to support lean muscle growth (which is a fantastic way to support bone health), staying compliant with your supplements (such as Vitamins D/K and calcium), or helping their client incorporate foods with more vitamins and minerals, a health coach guides their client to find their own intrinsic motivation to continue on their health journey.
A health coach bridges the gap between a medical diagnosis and health goals. Health coaches are trained with science-backed strategies to support their client in discovering their WHY on their health journey. Did the diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis wake you up to consider a healthier lifestyle? Are you worried about your longevity and independence as you age now that your bone density has started to decline? A health coach supports their clients by building small steps that are attainable and then building off of those until the desired goal has been reached.
A health coach can provide you with doctor referrals and testing locations. Working with a provider that understands and is trained to read and assess DXA scans is imperative. Health coaches will share with you the latest science, from reliable sources, on bone mineral density, menopause hormone therapy (if desired), and make sure that you are correctly informed. Health coaches will help you quite surfing the internet noise and learn how to navigate meaningful science.
If you are a midlife, menopausal woman and are interested in your bone health and how to create a healthy lifestyle that supports strong bones, schedule your complimentary 30-minute call with Jill Foos today.