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First, the bad news: Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by weakened bones susceptible to fractures, has a number of risk factors you can’t change. These include the following:

• Being over age 50
• Being female
• Having a family history of the disease
• Being white or of Asian descent
• Having a small body frame
• Having a history of fracture after age 50

The good news? You can slow bone loss by taking the following actions:

• Eat a balanced diet and get plenty of calcium and vitamin D.
• Do weight-bearing exercises such as walking, tennis, or dancing three to four days a week.
• Don’t smoke; limit alcohol.

Visit the  website for more info. Learn about El Camino Hospital’s Bone Density Center.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2016 edition of the El Camino Hospital Health Beat magazine.