Fracture risk — what raises it and what you can do
Breaking a bone isn’t just bad luck. Age, low bone density, some medications, and simple things like poor balance or low Vitamin D all add up. If you want to lower your fracture risk, focus on three things: strengthen bones, avoid risky meds or combos, and cut down fall chances around the house. Below I’ll walk you through the most common risks and clear, useful steps you can take today.
Medications and conditions that change your risk
Some drugs directly weaken bone or increase falls. Long-term steroids are a top offender. Proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole or pantoprazole) can reduce calcium absorption if used for years. Certain anticonvulsants and some cancer treatments (aromatase inhibitors) also hurt bone. Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) and medications that cause dizziness or low blood pressure raise fall risk — and falls cause most fractures. Even alcohol and dehydration make things worse; see our piece on mixing alcohol and diuretics for details.
Other health problems matter too: low body weight, early menopause, smoking, long-term inflammatory disease (like rheumatoid arthritis), and prior fractures. If you take drugs that change calcium or vitamin D levels — for example, calcitriol (Rocaltrol) — your doctor should monitor blood calcium so treatment helps, not harms.
Practical steps to lower your fracture risk
Get a baseline test. A DEXA scan tells you bone density and helps estimate fracture risk (FRAX score). If your scan looks off, your doctor will suggest treatments or lifestyle changes. Add calcium and vitamin D if your intake is low — check blood vitamin D if possible. Calcitriol is a prescription option in some low-calcium conditions, but it needs medical supervision.
Move more with weight-bearing and strength exercises: walking, light weights, heel raises, and balance drills cut falls and build bone. Tidy your home: remove loose rugs, add night lights, and install grab bars in the bathroom. Review all your meds with a clinician or pharmacist — sometimes swapping or adjusting doses reduces dizziness and fall risk. Cut heavy drinking and quit smoking; both weaken bone over time.
If you’re on long-term meds known to harm bone, ask about alternatives or bone-protecting treatments like bisphosphonates or newer options. That’s a conversation for your prescriber — these drugs have pros and cons that depend on your health history.
Want targeted reading? Check our guides on Rocaltrol (calcitriol and calcium management), Lasix and diuretics, and the PPI comparison (pantoprazole vs omeprazole) for more on how treatments can affect bones. If you’re worried about a recent fall or sudden pain after a bump, get medical attention — early treatment often prevents worse problems.
Small changes add up. Test if needed, strengthen your body, tidy your environment, and review medicines with a pro. Do those things and you’ll cut your fracture risk a lot more than you might think.
