Taking care of our bodies means eating right, exercising, and seeing our physician for well visits and preventive screenings. These are basics that can help us to feel better and get healthier.

And, when it comes to bone health, these guidelines apply as well. But it doesn’t have to be a complicated, difficult process. Look at some of the small changes you can make in your life to minimize your risk of osteoporosis and broken bones:

When you look at the numbers for osteoporosis, it’s a little surprising: up to half of all women and a quarter of men will get some degree of osteoporosis. This can lead to broken bones and complications as a result of these fractures.

Getting regular physical activity is a great way to stay healthy physically and emotionally at any age. For seniors, exercise can help with arthritis pain, joint stiffness, strengthening bones and muscle, and may even help keep your mind sharp and your spirits up. But starting an exercise program should take a little thought and planning — and always let your physician know before you begin.

A fractured hip in an older adult is not just any broken bone. Hip fractures can result in permanent disability, loss of independence, and even death. Almost all hip fractures in older adults happen because of falls, and most falls occur within the home.

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to become weak and brittle. It often causes no symptoms in the early stages, so you may not be aware that you have it.

If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or are at risk for the condition, your bones will become more fragile as you age. Thousands of older Americans fall down in and around their homes every year, and either become injured or disabled as a result, says the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Since individuals with osteoporosis are more at risk for bone fractures due to their conditions, they must take extra steps to make their homes and bodies safer to lower the risk for falling down.

As women age, they often tend to overlook their bone health. Osteoporosis is increasingly being diagnosed in more and more women every day, which is why it’s important to consider the risk factors associated with osteoporosis.

While osteoporosis can affect both men and women, the condition is more common in women due to their lower bone densities and higher propensity for bone loss as they continue to age. Osteoporosis affects about 200 million women around the globe, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, which makes the disease a greater burden for women of all ages.

Osteoporosis affects about 12 million Americans in the US, and remains a serious health threat to individuals over the age of 50. Osteoporosis can be caused by factors such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, certain medications and health conditions, and family history. The better understanding you can have about the causes of osteoporosis, the better you’ll be able to lower your risk for the disease as best as possible.

Exercise is great for your overall health in that it can drive weight loss, improve cardiovascular health, and boost immune system function, in addition to providing multiple other health benefits. Exercise can also help build, strengthen, and maintain your bone health, which can help in the fight against osteoporosis.