Do wrinkles mean bone loss?

You may not think that looking in the mirror
could help your bone health. After all, some call
osteoporosis the “silent disease” because
many people don’t realize something is wrong
with their bones until they suffer from a
fracture. But there are actually several ways
that your appearance provides clues to what’s
going on with your bone health and helps you
take steps to correct any issues. As a result,
you’ll both look and feel great, which is what
the Better Bones, Better Body approach is all
about.
Here are some questions to ask about your
appearance and what the answers might mean
for bone health:
• Do
you
have
deep
wrinkles? Women with deeper wrinkles may
have a higher risk of fractures, according to
researchers who looked at the skin changes of
the face and neck along with the bone health of
postmenopausal women ages 45-58. They
think that the loss of collagen is connected to
both wrinkles and lower bone density.
• Are your gums receding? Receding gums rank
as one of the top 6 signs of bone loss and it’s
actually quite common! This is because our
teeth are connected to the jaw bone, so if the
jaw is losing bone, gums can recede. We’ve
also seen that jaw bone loss has been
associated with lower bone mineral density in
areas such as the vertebrae of the lumbar
spine.
• Do you have brittle hair or fingernails? Weak,
brittle nails are often a sign that you aren’t
getting enough of the key nutrients needed for
healthy bone growth and repair. In some cases,
hair loss can also be a sign of certain
nutritional deficiencies such as not getting
enough vitamin D — one of the most critical
nutrients for bone health.
• Do you look happy and free of worry? I’ve
noted that beauty is bone deep based on my
belief that the happiness and energy that come
from good health and a sense of well-being
make us truly beautiful. Of all the risk factors
we can control in regards to our bone health,
how we respond to stress, and lessen its
impact on our lives, is one of the most
important.