[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/top-myths-about-osteoporosis\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/top-myths-about-osteoporosis\/","headline":"Top 10 myths about osteoporosis","name":"Top 10 myths about osteoporosis","description":"Print PDF eBook Facebook Twitter Gmail LinkedIn Pinterest Are you frightened by what you hear about bone loss and osteoporosis? You certainly don\u2019t need to be! That\u2019s because much of what we\u2019re told about bone health is actually a myth. In reality, there\u2019s a lot you can do to build bone strength, support osteoporosis prevention […]","datePublished":"2019-12-20","dateModified":"2026-04-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/#Person","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/","identifier":72,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Center for Better Bones","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","width":150,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/osteoporosis-prevention-BB-Blog-12-19-2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/osteoporosis-prevention-BB-Blog-12-19-2.jpg","height":1256,"width":2400},"url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/top-myths-about-osteoporosis\/","about":["Osteoporosis"],"wordCount":1088,"keywords":["osteoporosis"],"articleBody":" Print PDF eBook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPinterest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre you frightened by what you hear about bone loss and osteoporosis? You certainly don\u2019t need to be! That\u2019s because much of what we\u2019re told about bone health is actually a myth. In reality, there\u2019s a lot you can do to build bone strength, support osteoporosis prevention and reduce fracture risk. Let\u2019s set the record straight:Table of ContentsToggle     5 Minutes ReadMyth 1: Lack of calcium causes osteoporosis.Myth 2: Osteoporosis is normal… as your bones age they should get weak.Myth 3: A diagnosis of osteoporosis means you\u2019ll suffer a fracture.Myth 4: Osteopenia leads to osteoporosis.Myth 5: Lack of estrogen causes osteoporosis \u2014 it\u2019s a woman\u2019s problem.Myth 6: You don\u2019t need to worry about osteoporosis until menopause.Myth 7: There\u2019s nothing you can do once you have osteoporosis other than take a drug.Myth 8: Osteoporosis is common all over the world.Myth 9: Osteoporosis isn\u2019t linked to other health issues.Myth 10: There aren\u2019t any signs or symptoms of bone loss.Myth 1: Lack of calcium causes osteoporosis.Yes, calcium is important, but it\u2019s a myth that simply taking a high amount of calcium will guarantee bone health and prevent osteoporosis. To protect your bones, you need enough of 19 additional essential bone building nutrients, not just calcium. In fact, you need some of those nutrients just to get any benefits of calcium.For example, without enough vitamin D, your body only absorbs about 10-15% of the calcium from your diet, but when you take enough, the absorption rate jumps to 30-40%. Other critical nutrients for bone health are vitamin K, magnesium and strontium.Myth 2: Osteoporosis is normal… as your bones age they should get weak.Bone loss \u2014 even osteoporosis \u2014 can affect you in your 20s, 30s and 40s.One of the most dangerous bone health myths is that there is no osteoporosis prevention as we age and that it is inevitable. While there are some fixed risk factors \u2014 such as our age and gender \u2014 you can control many of the risk factors that lead to excessive bone loss, osteoporosis and fracture. The truth is, you can have strong bones at any age.Myth 3: A diagnosis of osteoporosis means you\u2019ll suffer a fracture.Research shows that over half of the people with thin \u201costeoporotic bone\u201d never experience a fracture. What\u2019s more, many people who have normal bone density do experience fractures. To identify your personal fracture risk, take a fracture risk assessment rather than relying only on a bone density test (DEXA).Myth 4: Osteopenia leads to osteoporosis.An osteopenia diagnosis means you have a state of relatively low bone mass, compared to the standard. For many women this may be only in one area \u2014 not necessarily throughout your body. And it doesn\u2019t automatically mean that you\u2019re currently losing bone. Your bones are alive. It\u2019s never too late to build bone because it\u2019s living tissue that constantly repairs itself. One study finds that even nursing home residents, average age of 81, build bone mass from doing light exercises and taking calcium and vitamin D daily.Myth 5: Lack of estrogen causes osteoporosis \u2014 it\u2019s a woman\u2019s problem.We hear all the time that osteoporosis is a \u201cwomen\u2019s disease\u201d and men don\u2019t really need to worry about it. This may stem from the long-standing belief that low estrogen levels cause bone loss. But in many countries, women maintain healthy bones for life \u2014 even though they experience the same lower estrogen levels with menopause the rest of us do. So while estrogen may play a role in osteoporosis, it\u2019s certainly not the major cause. And unfortunately, men get osteoporosis too!Myth 6: You don\u2019t need to worry about osteoporosis until menopause.Bone loss \u2014 even osteoporosis \u2014 can be secretly affecting you in your 20s, 30s and 40s. We normally achieve peak bone mass in our 20s and then begin to lose it, some of us more quickly than others. The earliest type of bone loss takes place for women who are thin, have celiac disease, suffer from irregular menstrual cycles or poor nutrition, or use steroid drugs.Myth 7: There\u2019s nothing you can do once you have osteoporosis other than take a drug.The U.S. Surgeon General recommends much more than drugs! In fact, in 2004 the Surgeon General provided a pyramid outlining the best ways to promote overall bone health in addition to fracture and osteoporosis prevention. The first steps in the pyramid are the natural approach to bone health combining nutrition, physical activity and fall prevention. Next comes assessing and treating the underlying causes of compromised bone health. Finally, as the final resort, is the use of bone drugs.Myth 8: Osteoporosis is common all over the world.Osteoporotic fracture rates vary greatly around the world, with the U.S. having one of the highest fracture rates. It\u2019s clear that certain lifestyle factors play major roles in bone loss, including:High levels of stress and anxietyLack of exerciseHigh caffeine intakeUse of certain prescription drugsPoor nutritionMyth 9: Osteoporosis isn\u2019t linked to other health issues.More and more, research appears to indicate that there\u2019s a link between the existence of osteoporosis and other diseases. When you build your bones, you\u2019re likely building a healthier, stronger body and improving metabolic fitness, muscle strength, blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular health \u2014 all at the same time.Myth 10: There aren\u2019t any signs or symptoms of bone loss.While many women don\u2019t realize they have a bone issue until they fracture, there are early signs and symptoms of bone loss. These include receding gums; decreased grip strength; weak and brittle fingernails; cramps, muscle aches and bone pain; height loss and low overall fitness. Another good way to know if you are losing bone is to test your pH level to see if your body is acidic, which can deplete your bone mass systematically until you begin eating a more alkalizing diet.By knowing these facts about bone health in addition to fracture and osteoporosis prevention, you can take the steps to have better bones now and for life. A good next step is to take my Fracture Risk Assessment to find out your true risk. Why don\u2019t you take it right now?For everything you need to know about DEXA scans, visit our guide to the complete guide to osteoporosis testing.To build bone through movement, explore the Better Bones Exercise for Osteoporosis program."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Osteoporosis","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Top 10 myths about osteoporosis","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/osteoporosis\/top-myths-about-osteoporosis\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]