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What is Osteoporosis? How to Diagnose OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a bone disease affecting the entire skeleton marked by a decrease in bone mineral density. Essentially, the bone tissue is slowly reabsorbed by the body while bone formation is slowed, resulting in porous bones which become brittle and are more prone to fracture. Bones in this condition are called osteoporotic, and an osteoporotic fracture is a breakage of bone, usually hip, wrist, or vertebra, resulting from a fall at standing height (ie, under low stress conditions that normal bones should be able to withstand). Most people don't know it, but one out of five people who break their hip end up in a nursing home -- it is a very serious condition for the elderly. In this guide, we will take a look at the cause and symptoms of osteoporosis, as well as the drugs and treatments available to aid in combatting and preventing the disease.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis? Causes of OsteoporosisMany people believe osteoporosis is caused simply by a lack of sufficient calcium and other vitamins and minerals used in bone formation. But even people who get the recommended daily allowances of calcium can still have and get osteoporosis. Post-menopausal women are especially susceptible to osteoporosis since the decrease in estrogen in their bodies leads to lower bone mass density all by itself. In fact, about 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 suffer from some form of osteoporosis (while about 1 in 6 men do). Other leading causes of osteoporosis include lack of exercise, steroid use, cigarette smoking, and malnutrition. Peak bone mass density is achieved around the age of 30, and bone formation is especially important during adolescent years, so a key to avoiding osteoporosis is later life is to have an active healthy lifestyle as a teen and young adult, with plenty of exercise and good calcium intake - you essentially build up a bank of calcium for your body to use your entire life. Osteoporosis by itself is not a life-threatening disease - it is the risk of falling in older age that makes bodily injuries and fractures a danger for the elderly and sufferers of osteoporosis.Treatments for osteoporosis include calcium and vitamin D supplements, and drugs like Fosamax or Boniva (biphosphonates). Vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb and process calcium, so it is included in all supplements programs. Also, the body cannot process and consume more than 500mg of calcium at a given time (about 300mg in a glass of milk), so you should pace your calcium intake throughout the day instead of having 2 glasses of milk and a calcium supplement candy all at one sitting. For women, estrogen replacement therapy also helps in preventing the disease. Other osteoporosis drugs include Actonel, Protelos, Evista, Premarin, Zometa, Climara, and Forteo. Boniva is a bisphosphonate, once a month tablet, taken by postmenopausal women to maintain and increase bone density. Regular weight bearing exercise is also prescribed for people with sedentary lifestyle. Even just 3-4 sessions of walking for 30 minutes each week can help reduce and prevent the likelihood of osteoporosis. What kinds of food are high in calcium?
How much calcium should a healthy person get each day to avoid Osteoporosis?The table below shows the daily calcium intake recommended by the US Surgeon General:
Tips to avoid injuries associated with OsteoporosisThe Surgeon General provides some tips to avoid falls and injuries for senior citizens:
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