Seven [7] Subtle Signs That You May Have A Bone Problem

People tend to wait till they have severe pains in their bones before considering seeing a professional about it. However, there are subtle signs that a bone problem is imminent and you should consider paying attention to them.

You Get Bone Fractures Easily
A big sign of bone weakness and bone loss can be a fracture. If you break, an ankle for example, in a minor incident like stepping wrong off a curb, it might be time to get your bones checked out as it may be an early indication that you have the bone-thinning disease, osteoporosis.

You Have Bone Pain, Muscle Aches And Cramps
Aches and pains come with aging but they can signal more than just your body getting older. Frequent aches and pains are a warning sign of a vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to bone loss.

Furthermore, if you find yourself getting frequent muscle cramps, it can be a sign of vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Muscle cramps are especially common in feet and legs. Leg cramps that occur at night are often a sign that your calcium, magnesium, and/or potassium blood levels are too low.

You Have Brittle Nails
If you notice that your nails are getting broken more often than normal it might be cause for concern. Your nails can turn brittle for a number of reasons, but the most common reasons are collagen and calcium deficiencies.

Collagen is a protein that supports your skin, connective tissue, and skeleton. You can keep your nails healthy by eating foods like leafy green veggies, soy, and citrus.

Calcium is a mineral that is important to bone health. Asides dairy, you can also get calcium from dark leafy greens and sardines. A lack of calcium and collagen will result in brittle nails.

You’re Getting Short
You may have heard of the myth that people lose height as they age, but this is false. It happens when your bone mass decreases and the cartilage between your bones wears down from years and years of heavy use.

Getting shorter doesn’t always mean your bones are in trouble, but it can indicate a weakening of the muscles around your spine. Since bone and muscle work together and lose strength together it’s likely that a loss in muscle is connected to an eventual loss in bone.

Your Grip Strength Is Poor
Opening some jars can be difficult but if you notice that your grip is worse than usual, you may want to consider seeing your doctor to determine if you have bone loss.

There’s a link between your grip strength and the bone density in your hip, spine, and forearm. Weakness in the bones of your hand can signal weakness elsewhere. One way to protect your bones—and increase your grip strength—is by strength training.

You Fail To Exercise
If you spend most of your time sitting at work and at home, you have a high chance of developing osteoporosis. Exercise helps build not only strong muscles but strong bones as well.

When you exercise, such as when you lift weights and do weight-bearing cardio like jogging or stair-climbing, you will be preserving your bones. Try getting up from your desk and walking around the office at least once every hour. You can also make time for the gym, or take long walks.

You Have Receding Gums
You may not be able to spot receding gums because it happens over time. Your gums recede as your jawbone loses strength and bone mass.

The jawbone is the anchor of your teeth, so when it weakens, your gums, it can detach from your teeth. A major sign of receding gums is when you start losing teeth.

As you age, ask your dentist to check up on your gum health. Even if you don’t have gum trouble, you will still want to keep up with preventive measures like flossing and brushing regularly. Alternatively, you can strengthen your jaw by chewing gum.