Got a letter from my doc about my recent bone density scan. The scan showed I have osteopenia - bone thinning. It also contained a warning that unchecked osteopenia can turn into osteoporosis. Mom had osteoporosis but I thought I would be 'immune' from it since I was a good eight inches taller than her and I drank a lot of milk up to the age of 18. The doc said I should start taking 1200 mg/day of calcium and 1000 IU units/day of vitamin D3. Had to do a little research on the possible side effects of taking calcium and D3, the different forms of calcium, diff between the vitamin D's, etc. before I felt comfortable w/ taking additional pills. Fortunately lots of stores carry calcium and D3 so they were easy to obtain. The letter from the doc also said I should do weight bearing exercises (can find out what they are on the Internet) plus I should stop using tobacco products and drinking alcohol to excess. Reminded me of the family story of when my grandfather went to the doctor w/ a breathing problem. His doc asked him if he smoked and my grandfather replied he didn't. "Too bad," said the doc. "It would really help if you could give it up."
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