Health
Hidden signs your bones may be weaker than you think, according to doctor
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
When people think about protecting their health, bone health often takes a back seat to more prominent concerns like cancer or heart disease.
But for women, bone density can become a real issue with age, as osteoporosis weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures.
Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified OB-GYN, certified menopause specialist and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, talked to Fox News Digital about the severity of this threat.
YOUR FAVORITE WINTER DRINK MAY WEAKEN BONES AND PACK MORE SUGAR THAN A CANDY BAR
“About 50% of women can expect to have an osteoporotic fracture before they die,” she said. “That is triple the rate of men.”
Osteoporosis is defined as a “bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases or when the structure and strength of bone changes,” according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Fifty percent of women will experience an osteoporotic fracture by age 50, while only 20% of men will experience the same, according to Haver. (iStock)
The condition can cause the bones to become so weak and brittle that a fall or even mild stress, like coughing, can cause a break.
Haver, also founder of The ‘Pause Life, a health and wellness platform focused on supporting women through midlife changes, noted that the “downfall” after these fractures can be “pretty devastating.”
TEA PROTECTS, COFFEE DESTROYS? NEW STUDY REVEALS STARK BONE-DENSITY DIVIDE FOR OLDER WOMEN
Fractures can lead to disability, death and high medical costs, according to a blog post by Haver on The ‘Pause Life’s website.
Risks and warning signs
Haver emphasized that osteoporosis is a “largely preventable” disease.
“Paying attention to the lifestyle, the behaviors, possibly the medications that can prevent osteoporosis earlier in life, will really help stave off some of the loss of independence that women are suffering from as they age,” she told Fox News Digital.
The expert recommends engaging in weight-bearing exercise and resistance training to build bone density. (iStock)
The condition is more likely to occur in those who have hormone imbalances, have undergone gastrointestinal surgery, have low calcium intake or experience disordered eating, according to Haver and the Mayo Clinic. Those with a family history of osteoporosis may also face a higher risk.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
People who have taken corticosteroid medicines for conditions like seizures, gastric reflux, cancer and transplant rejection are more susceptible, as are those with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.
Although osteoporosis is sometimes referred to as a “silent disease,” which can progress without symptoms until a fracture occurs, there are a few subtle clues that may indicate “lower than normal” bone density, Haver said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
These include loss of height, back pain, receding gums, and weak or brittle nails.
Those who are often sedentary may experience worsened symptoms. (iStock)
Osteoporosis can also be caused by certain unhealthy habits, such as being sedentary, consuming excessive alcohol and using tobacco.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Mayo Clinic reported, “People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than do those who are more active.”
Haver agreed that staying physically active, while getting enough calcium and vitamin D through a healthy diet or supplementation, can help maintain healthy bone density.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Engage in weight-bearing exercise and resistance training, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and talk to a doctor about any medications that may affect bone health,” she wrote in her blog post.
“Regular bone density testing may also be recommended for some individuals to monitor their bone health and identify any potential issues early on.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A simple lifestyle adjustment could potentially slow down the body’s biological aging process, according to new research.
The study, published in the journal Aging, investigated how a diet change and easy exercise regimen affected men between the ages of 50 and 74 over a three-month period.
Researchers designed a clinical trial involving 48 overweight men in Japan. Over a 12-week period, half of the participants followed a strictly structured wellness routine, while the other half maintained their usual habits.
DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE
For the intervention group, the routine required consuming 100 grams of plain yogurt every day.
This group also received individualized dietary counseling that advised them to curb overeating, avoid excessive snacking and cut out sugary drinks.
A simple lifestyle adjustment could potentially slow down the body’s biological aging process, according to new research. (iStock)
They were also instructed to walk or use a stepper machine for roughly 30 minutes a day, at least three days each week.
To measure the impact of these changes, the scientists collected blood samples from all participants before and after the study, and also analyzed DNA for chemical changes that act as indicators of cellular age.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Specifically, they used a measurement tool called DunedinPACE. Rather than assessing a person’s chronological age in years, this tool calculates the precise rate at which an individual’s body is currently aging.
The men who consumed the probiotic yogurt, adjusted their diets and exercised showed a statistically significant reduction in their pace of aging compared to the control group, the researchers said.
The anti-aging benefits cannot be attributed to any single component on its own due to the variety in the study, the researchers noted. (iStock)
On average, the speed of their biological aging slowed by approximately 2.2%. This reduction is roughly comparable to the slowing of biological aging observed in a previous two-year U.S. study, in which participants reduced their daily calorie intake by 25%.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
This reduction in aging speed happened independently of weight loss , meaning it did not directly correlate with changes in the participants’ body mass index or the exact number of exercise sessions they logged.
The researchers also recorded a noticeable improvement in a specific DNA marker that is linked to kidney function.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Because this study combined three distinct factors — probiotics, diet and exercise — the authors concluded that the anti-aging benefits cannot be attributed to any single component. Instead, the slowed aging rate appears to be the result of a combined effect.
The reduction in aging speed happened independently of weight loss, the study found. (iStock)
The researchers also acknowledged clear limitations of the study, including its small sample size and short duration. Also, the participant pool was restricted to overweight men of a single nationality.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
More research is needed to determine whether these short-term biological shifts can translate into permanent, long-term health benefits, the study stated.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The simple act of noting how fast your heart is beating while you’re at rest may be the key to measuring your overall health.
Resting heart rate is defined by Mayo Clinic as the number of times your heart beats each minute while you’re awake, calm and not moving.
A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute for adults. A slower resting heart rate means the heart does not have the work as heard to pump blood through the body — something typical of someone who is more fit.
LATEST COVID VACCINE MAY HAVE UNEXPECTED HEALTH BENEFIT, STUDY SUGGESTS
Athletes who are very fit may have a resting heart rate closer to 40 beats per minute, according to Mayo Clinic.
Your resting heart rate can vary due to a variety of factors, including age, physical activity levels, sleep health, smoking, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress, anxiety, hormones, body type and certain medications.
A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute for adults, according to medical experts. (iStock)
But a resting heart rate that’s often too high or too low may signal a health issue.
WEEKLY WEIGHTLIFTING SWEET SPOT MAY BE LINKED TO LONGER LIFE, STUDY SAYS
A high resting heart rate, even if it’s slight, is usually a sign that something else may be going on in the body, such as anemia, an infection or a thyroid problem, according to Cleveland Clinic.
A high resting heart rate, even if it’s slight, is usually a sign that something else may be going on in the body. (iStock)
If your heart rate is regularly above 100 beats per minute, this is a sign to talk with your heart care provider.
The same advice applies if you are not a trained athlete and your resting heart rate is frequently below 60 beats per minute.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Talk to your doctor if other symptoms such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath occur.
How to measure your heart rate
You can check your own heart rate by tracking your pulse on your wrist or neck. The best time of day to measure resting heart rate is first thing in the morning, says Mayo Clinic.
Place your index and middle fingers inside the wrist below the thumb, to feel the radial artery; or, do so on the side of the neck, to feel the carotid artery.
Place your index and middle fingers on the side of the neck, to feel the carotid artery — and count how many beats per minute. (iStock)
Count the number of times your pulse beats in 15 seconds, then multiply this number by four to calculate beats per minute.
Wearable devices can also detect and track resting heart rate, although this may not always be accurate.
How to lower your heart rate
If your resting heart rate is higher than normal, there are a few ways to work toward lowering it.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Vigorous exercise is “the best way” to lower your resting heart rate and increase the heart’s aerobic capacity and max heart rate, according to Harvard.
For those who don’t exercise regularly, it’s important to work your way up in difficulty when following a new workout routine.
Vigorous exercise is “the best way” to lower your resting heart rate, Harvard Health says. But it’s vital to work your way up carefully. (iStock)
Some medications, such as beta blockers, can also lower heart rate. In the same way, managing stress through holistic methods such as meditation or yoga can also help.
Cleveland Clinic also recommends cutting back on harmful substances such as drugs and alcohol, which can dehydrate you and raise your heart rate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Adequate sleep can also help bring your heart rate down, in addition to maintaining a healthy weight.
Cardiologist Tamanna Singh, M.D., shared with Cleveland Clinic that lowering your heart rate takes time as various lifestyle changes kick in.
Managing stress through holistic methods such as meditation or yoga can help lower your resting heart rate,
“Just like building your biceps and triceps, it takes time for your heart to become stronger,” the doctor said.
Singh recommended focusing on heart rate patterns rather than dialing in on just the number.
Take note of how your heart rate changes after eating certain foods, when you’re dehydrated or after you’ve begun a new exercise or stress management routine.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“If you notice that your heart rate is consistently over 100, mention it to your doctor, especially if you’ve tried making lifestyle changes and they don’t seem to be working,” she said.
“Your resting heart rate isn’t the be-all, end-all of your health, but it’s definitely a marker that you should pay attention to.”
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
-
Georgia6 minutes agoHow Georgia football can make sure they are the defining program of the 2020s
-
Hawaii9 minutes agoFilipino dignitaries embrace RIMPAC hospitality amid outside protests – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
-
Idaho14 minutes agoFollow the clues and find $15,000 in East Idaho's biggest treasure hunt yet
-
Illinois21 minutes agoReal estate sales in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford counties for July 11, 2026
-
Indiana24 minutes ago4-vehicle crash shuts down eastbound I-94 in Michigan City, Indiana
-
Iowa29 minutes ago‘Best friend,’ teen describes her grandma, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds
-
Kentucky39 minutes ago11 Amazing Kentucky Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive In 2026
-
Louisiana44 minutes agoLouisiana judge admits to misconduct; is suspended without pay for rest of term
