Prevention

To reduce your risk of avascular necrosis and improve your general health:

• Limit alcohol. Heavy drinking is one of the top risk factors for developing avascular necrosis.
• Keep cholesterol levels low. Tiny bits of fat are the most common substance blocking blood supply to bones.
• Monitor steroid use. Make sure your doctor knows about your past or present use of high-dose steroids. Steroid-related bone damage appears to worsen with repeated courses of high-dose steroids.
• Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk.