Bone density simply is referring to the strength of your bone tissue – how dense or compact it is. During and after menopause, your bones have the potential to lose its density or strength at a rapid rate. This makes you prone to having fragile, brittle bone (osteoporosis), which could result in fractures.
Your doctor may order a bone mineral density (BMD) test to measure the strength of your bones. This is a simple pain free test that is done on the outside of your body (non-invasive). Be sure to eat nutritious meals, which include foods that are rich in calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K; be sure to discuss your nutritional needs with your doctor and follow his/her orders as you may have a medical condition that may not allow you to eat certain foods nor take certain vitamins; for example, if you are taking a blood thinner, you do not eat foods rich in vitamin K. Also, participate in weight-bearing activities, for example, walking, dancing, step/stairs-climbing, and bowling. Your doctor may even prescribe a medication to help prevent osteoporosis.