Treatment of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.Osteoporosis is a disease of bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone micro architecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collage nous proteins in bone is altered. Osteoporosis is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in women as a bone mineral density 2.5 standard deviations below peak bone mass (20-year-old healthy female average) as measured by DXA;

Risk factors of Osteoporosis

Age. The older you get, the higher your risk of osteoporosis. Your bones become weaker as you age.

Race. You’re at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you’re white or of Southeast Asian descent. Black and Hispanic men and women have a lower, but still significant, risk.

Sex. Osteoporosis is more common in women than men. Eighty percent, or four out of five, of the 10 million Americans who have it are women. There are several reasons for this. Women have lighter, thinner bones to begin with. They also lose loose bone rapidly after menopause.

The factors that may contribute to osteoporosis are not well defined. For example, studies by the U.S. National Institute of Child and Human Development (NICHD) have shown that irregular menstrual periods in young women may signal a hormonal shortage that could lead to osteoporosis.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease”, because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to fracture or a vertebra to collapse. However, there may be a chronic, dull pain particularly in the lower back or neck, which may become sharp later in the course of the disease.

Later in the course of the disease, sharp pains may come on suddenly. It may not radiate; it may be made worse by activity that puts weight on the area, may be tender, and generally begins to subside in 1 week. Pain may linger more than 3 months.

Treatment of Osteoporosis

Although osteoporosis has no cure, several types of medications are available to reduce the rate of bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce the number of fractures. In general, they work in two main ways: they lessen bone break down (anti-resorptive agents) or they stimulate the formation of new bone (anabolic agents).

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy (HT) was once the mainstay of treatment for osteoporosis. But because of concerns about its safety and because other treatments are available, the role of hormone therapy in managing osteoporosis is changing. Most problems have been linked to certain oral types of HT, either taken in combination with progestin or alone.In addition, it is important to get enough vitamin D. A daily intake of 400 IU, but no more than 800 IU, each day is recommended. Obtaining adequate amounts of vitamin D from our food may be difficult. The main sources of dietary vitamin D are fortified milk (100 IU/cup), egg yolks (25 IU/yolk) and oily fish (vitamin D content varies).



Thanks to james sameul for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:

Osteoporosis Bone Density

Osteoporosis is a medical condition that will affect a greater percentage of the population as the baby boomers age.

What is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that leads to fragile bones, higher risk of bone fractures, specifically hip, spine, and wrist. The disease is typically decreased bone mass and a deterioration of bone tissue, which is actually structural.

Osteoporosis Symptoms:

•Chronic dull pain in lower back or neck

•Loss of height and stooped posture.

•A curved upper back (dowager’s hump).

•Broken bones (fractures) that might occur with a minor injury, especially in the hip, spine, and wrist.

Prevention

Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later. The average woman has acquired 98% of her skeletal mass by age 30.

There are 4 steps to prevent osteoporosis (No one step along is enough to prevent osteoporosis):

•A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D

•Weight-bearing exercise

•A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake

•Medication to improve bone density when appropriate.

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Thanks to John Russell for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:

Have you claimed your Genesis site?

Osteoporosis, a degenerative disease, is not something that anyone wants to experience. In order to reverse the effects that osteoporosis can have on the body, it is important to know what the signs of this serious condition are. Here is an overview of the symptoms of osteoporosis, as well as what you can do once you notice that they are affecting you.

 

The most important thing that you should keep in mind is that osteoporosis symptoms often remain hidden until it is too late. In a lot of situations, the first and only sign of osteoporosis is a bone fracture. This can happen to the wrist, hip or spine and can occur for numerous reasons. However, some people do experience some symptoms related to osteoporosis before this happens.

 

One of the main symptoms of osteoporosis is a change in the spine. This is what causes people who have osteoporosis to look shorter and bent over. While it is perfectly normal for height to slightly decline when people grow older, no more than one inch should be lost. If this does happen, it is a common symptom indicating a person may be experiencing osteoporosis.

 

Another one of the osteoporosis symptoms that you should watch out for is back pain. There is a strong possibility that this may be an indicator of a back fracture. Back pain also is known to occur when the body begins to curve over. If this is something that you have experiencing, it is best to visit your doctor to schedule a test for osteoporosis.

 

Note that osteoporosis is a condition that is more likely to affect you as you get older, and so if you are, say, over 50, you should be extra vigilant for observing for symptoms of osteoporosis. But it is also possible for younger people to experience osteoporosis too. So don’t assume that if you’re younger you are immune from osteoporosis symptoms, be prepared to be vigilant all of your life.

 

Keep in mind that there are a number of different ways to naturally prevent or treat the symptoms of osteoporosis. Although the amount of bone density that you lose cannot be entirely treated, the effects of osteoporosis can be reversed and further prevented. Some of the ways for this to happen include eating a well balanced diet, staying active and taking supplements for Calcium and Vitamin D.

 

Osteoporosis symptoms are not something to take lightly. This health condition is very serious and if you believe that you may have it, it is best to talk to a doctor about it. Determining the causes and finding a treatment option is very important to overcoming this degenerative health condition. If you begin to notice any symptoms of osteoporosis, you also may want to implement these natural prevention and treatment methods into your life.

 

And there are companies, one in particular, which are producing highly effective natural and organic treatments for osteoporosis, so if you’re experiencing some of the symptoms of osteoporosis then there are natural treatments available. It isn’t always necessary to turn to drugs.

 



Thanks to Peter Clark for contributing this article to our Osteoporosis blog:

Osteoporosis Postmenopausal Women