Crumbly bones

Being sent for a DEXA scan at the age of 31 was a harsh wake up call. A DEXA scan is a bone density scan which looks to see how strong your bones are. In the politest possible way this is something we send our elderly patients for as they approach the later stages of life. Turning 30 you are already mourning the loss of your youthful 20's so to then be given an appointment for a DEXA scan is mildly unsettling. You've been convincing yourself for the best part of a year you aren't getting old, your entering your prime decade of life, ready to shine and take on the world, and then you get told your bones may be crumbling.

The reason you need to assess your bone strength is because women going through the menopause have reduced levels of oestrogen which increases the risk of osteoporosis and subsequently increases your risk of fracture. These aren't issues I ever imagine having to contend with at the age of 30. My life is busy, I have enough to worry about between work, exams, socialising and my desperate attempts to remain sane. There is already enough pressure to work out in order to stay skinny and keep healthy. It is already a struggle to find time in a day when you start work at 7.30 and leave 12-13 hours later after being on your feet all day. It's a struggle to choose to go to the gym after work rather than to catch up with friends over a glass of wine. Living in London is expensive and paying for a gym can really sting. It's ok in the summer but during the winter when your only day light hours are spent at work inside a hospital, what choice do you have. We all know we need to find that time to exercise regularly to avoid gaining weight and living an unhealthy life but now thanks to those declining oestrogen levels there is an additional guilt to contend with...if you don't find the time to exercise regularly your bones may crumble before you've successfully completed your 3rd decade of life. So I won't be going for that glass of wine after work then.