About Osteoporosis

Janet Martin asked:


A hot cup of coffee may sound like a great way to start the day. But if you consume too much, you could end up with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis or porous bones is a silent disease and one of the most common disorders of postmenopausal women. It affects almost one-third of all women over 50 and is a major cause of fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. Bones become thin and brittle because of lack of calcium that is controlled by the female hormone estrogen. As estrogen levels drop following menopause, the bones break easily, leading to painful, crippling and sometimes fatal injuries.

“For someone with this condition, a vigorous cough may fracture a rib; lifting a heavy object (like a grandchild) or taking a bumpy car ride may crack a bone in the spine – so will vigorous dancing. Osteoporotic bones also fracture spontaneously, for no apparent reason. When they do so in the spinal column, it collapses, leaving the affected woman with the familiar ‘dowager’s hump’ and considerably shorter,” according to Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital in “Doctor, What Should I Eat?”

The best way to get calcium is to drink a lot of milk and eat calcium-rich foods like cheddar or mozzarella cheese, salmon, sardines, tofu, and yogurt. Another helpful strategy is to avoid substances that rob calcium from your body. These calcium robbers include coffee and alcohol.

Coffee, cola, and tea are bad for your bones because they contain caffeine that promotes the excretion of calcium through the urine. At risk are those who drink more than two cups of brewed coffee or four cups of brewed tea a day. The calories from cola drinks can also make you fat and put extra strain on your bones. Another bad habit is smoking since nicotine interferes with calcium absorption. Those who smoke have lower bone mass.

Weight-bearing exercises can strengthen your bones and protect you from osteoporosis. Jumping and hopping in particular can help create healthy bones. To keep fit, take Phenocal, a safe, natural, and effective weight loss supplement that boosts your metabolism, suppresses your appetite, reduces food cravings, and increases energy levels to give you the body you want. Visit http://www.phenocal.com for details.



Mildred

Kathryn Whittaker asked:


Maintaining a positive attitude towards menopause will help a woman cope with many menopausal symptoms, but it takes more than a positive attitude to protect her from developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to become weak and brittle. This weakness makes the bones more susceptible to fractures, and can also result in height decrease and/or a humped back.

Osteoporosis is directly linked to menopause. It is estimated that more than 50 million American woman aged 45 and older are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Furthermore, research suggests that almost half of all women 60 and over will experience at least one fracture related to the disease. In addition, the average postmenopausal woman will lose approximately 10% of her bone mass within the first five years following menopause.

Why does osteoporosis typically occur in menopausal women? Estrogen is vital for aiding cells in building and maintaining strong, healthy bones. Thus, during menopause, the decrease in estrogen levels causes cell building bones to become less active. The result is in an increase in bone loss, because the bones are deteriorating faster than they can be rebuilt.

However, not every woman experiencing menopause will develop osteoporosis. Those who are at a higher risk are women with a peak bone mass that is already weakened from lack of calcium and vitamin D, and/or who have a family history of the disease.

Are their any signs or symptoms of osteoporosis? Unfortunately there are no warning signs you can watch for. Osteoporosis is a silent and fast moving disease that is usually not diagnosed until a person suffers a fracture.

Therefore, since osteoporosis isn’t usually detected until it’s too late; the best ways a woman can reduce her risk of developing the disease after menopause, is to eat a calcium rich diet and engage in regular exercise, or seek medical treatment.

The following are some ways to help prevent and treat osteoporosis:

Calcium and vitamin D – Women who are menopausal and postmenopausal require 1500 mg of calcium daily (if taking estrogen only 1200 mg is required). Calcium comes from a variety of foods, but is exceptionally rich in dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese.

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones because it helps them absorb calcium. Women between the ages 51 – 70 need 400 units of vitamin D daily, while women over 70 require 600 units. The best sources for Vitamin D include the sun (15-20 minutes of unprotected exposure) and vitamin d-fortified milk (8 oz. = 100 units).

Since the average woman fails to ingest the significant amount of calcium or vitamin D that is required, many doctors will prescribe supplements to help ensure they receive the necessary daily doses of each.

Exercise – Engaging in regular exercise can help prevent osteoporosis. Exercising for 30 – 40 minutes every other day is highly recommended. The reason is because the right physical activity, such as weight bearing (exercises including fast walking, jogging, aerobics, dancing), stretching (exercises such as Yoga and Pilates), and strength training (exercises that involve the use of weights to strengthen and build muscle), can help improve bone mass and slow down osteoporosis.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – this is a medical treatment that replaces the estrogen a woman’s body no longer produces. HRT slows down, and can even stop bone mass reduction.

Other medical treatments – Additional medical treatments include: bisphophonates, strontium ranelate, and SERM’s (selective oestrogen receptor modulators).

There is no time like the present to start reducing your risk of osteoporosis. Just make sure you talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.



Renee

Article Manager asked:


Menopause in women brings different kind of medical complications and the hormonal changes in the body that makes them vulnerable to disease like osteoporosis. Osteoporosis decreases the density of bone mass. Fortunately there is an effective medication available for osteoporosis in the form of Evista. Evista is a medication that affects the bone formation cycle and breakdown in the body. It also reduces the loss of bone tissue and is mostly used to prevent osteoporosis in post menopausal women. It reduces the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis or who are at risk of invasive breast cancer. Calcium and vitamin D should be taken along with Evista if one is not getting sufficient calcium and vitamin D from his regular diet. One can buy Evista only if it is prescribed by a registered medical health care provider.

Evista is one of the best options available for the treatment of osteoporosis and is also considered as a safe drug. But since all the medications have some kind of side effects it is also the case with Evista. Some side effects are bound to occur in some women during the treatment. Side effects that can be caused by Evista are well documented and it implies that it causes birth defects in an unborn baby. Other than this some other complications that can be administered while taking Evista are blood clot formations, swelling of the legs, sudden chest pain, coughing up blood, changes in vision. If one finds any such complications during the treatment she should immediately seek the medical attention.

Evista is the only second FDA approved drug, which is used to reduce the risk of breast cancer. It is commonly referred to as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). Evista is currently taken by about half a million women in the U.S. to prevent and treat osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones. Researchers had previously observed lower rates of breast cancer in women taking Evista than in the general population. Evista is taken once each day and it can be taken any time of the day. One should avoid alcohol and tobacco while taking Evista and should do weight bearing exercises to strengthen her bones.

Evista can only be purchased if it is prescribed by a doctor. It is easily available on various drug stores. One of the best ways to buy Evista is through online drug store where one can avail fabulous discounts on the purchase. Moreover one can order this medication online by just sitting at home and the medication will be delivered at home. It has become an easy and fast process of availing best medication at the reasonable price. These online drug stores have necessary licensed for selling the drugs of all the reputed pharmaceutical companies.



Juanita

Katie Kelley asked:


Copyright (c) 2009 Katie Kelley

Scientists recently discovered an astonishing new association related to the onset of osteoporosis among patients. The relationship, which is between bone metabolism and depression is becoming more prevalent, according to a study published in a recent issue of European Journal Psychotherapy.

The study found that through the analyzation of data between 1994 and 2007, the “association between psychiatric illness, particularly depression, and osteoporosis been the subject of a growing body of research,” and the increased interest between the two issues is resulting in much validity, according to researchers.

Researchers continue to struggle with why the development of osteoporosis may be linked to that of a depression diagnosis as well. Currently, scientists continue to scrutinize as well as examine the increasingly notable relationship between the two conditions.

What is Depression?

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes depression as everyday feelings of sadness that “interfere with daily life, normal functioning and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her.”

Depression is often identified by several reoccurring signs and symptoms including what the NIMH describes here:

* persistent sadness, anxious or empty feelings

* hopelessness and pessimism about life

* feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

* thoughts of suicide

* overeating or appetite loss

* insomnia, waking up in the early morning as well as continued sleep

* aches, pains, headaches — all of which are persistent

* inability to concentrate

* decreased energy and increased feelings of fatigue

* irritability

Causes of Osteoporosis

There are several reasons behind the onset of osteoporosis including the following, reported by the Mayo Clinic:

* size and density of bones

* calcium, phosphorus and other minerals found in the bones

* bone remodeling/bone turnover

* onset of menopause or when estrogen decreases

* bone mass retention

Additionally, scientists and physicians have discovered a new link between diabetes patients and the development of osteoporosis. One of the medications used to treat insulin regulation among type 2 diabetes patients, known as Avandia, has been linked to causing osteoporosis among patients, according to news reports from The New England Journal of Medicine and Swiss researchers.

Avandia (rosiglitazone), which was developed as a new type of medication known as thiaxolidinedione from GlaxoSmithKline, was released in May 1999. There are additional side effects associated with consumption of the drug including the following:

* weight gain

* cough

* cold

* headache

* inflammation of the sinuses

* back pain

* swelling

* fluid retention

However, the most damning discovery of additional side effects including increased risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures among women as well as heart failure among patients were discovered only recently. Patients who have suffered from any of these Avandia side effects are encouraged to seek medical counsel to discuss switching medications.

Individuals may also require legal advice from an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer regarding the development of an Avandia class action lawsuit. Also, developing a lawsuit with a knowledgeable Avandia attorney may result in being awarded monetary funds as compensation for damages endured.



Cindy

My Answers Suck asked:


I eat a lot of protein cause I lift weigts & am trying to gain weight & someone on this site told me that, Ive never heard it before but was wondering if there is any truth to that.

Katherine

student 123abc asked:


My paternal grandmother and mother both seem to have osteoporosis because they have major lower back issues. I’m only 18, but I’ve been having lower back pains too. I thought it was because I danced too much and over-worked my hips and back (hip-hop, salsa, krump, etc.), but now I see I run the risk of having osteoporosis too. What should I do?

Megan

Lynn Vandyke asked:


rates once said, “That which is used develops, and that which is not used wastes away.” I like to believe that he is talking about strength training and its affect on osteoporosis.  Strength training can be defined as any activity that places a heavier load on the muscles than it is typically used to.  Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone mass and density causing bones to become fragile.

Strength training has been shown to increase bone density. It has been shown to increase overall strength, balance and coordination as well. Exercise is one of the best natural defenses against this disease.

Unfortunately, as we grow older we tend to use our muscles less and less. This inactivity is costing us. Falls and broken bones are of major concern to many of us. Strength training can help reduce the number of serious accidents by providing a base of strength and balance.

If you already have osteoporosis a weight training program can still help build bone density. Work with lighter weights and avoid any motion that involves twisting or bending forward. Also avoid high impact exercises such as jumping or running.

If your main goal is to prevent osteoporosis then work with heavier weights and increase the intensity as you go on. This will build your bone mass up incrementally.

In either scenario it is best to talk with your doctor or specialist before starting any strength training or exercise program.  Your doctor will be able to tell you about any precautions you should take. Hippocrates was right. If we don’t use it, we will lose it.

Earl

Peter Clark asked:


Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease, which means that it progresses over time. In order to determine if you have osteoporosis, it is ideal to visit your doctor for a bone density test. Once your doctor has confirmed that you have this bone condition, it is important to take osteoporosis medication or other treatment options into consideration.

 

First and foremost, it is important to make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions in regards to any type of osteoporosis treatment medication. Be sure to remind your doctor of any health conditions or medications that you may currently be on, in order to insure that they will not interfere with treatment options.

 

That said, there are several osteoporosis medications and treatments that you should know about.

Bisphosphonates are the most common type of osteoporosis treatment medication that is used to prevent further bone density from being lost. Some of the most popular brand name medications that fall under this category of prescription drugs include Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva.

 

However although these are some of the more popular osteoporosis medications, they are not without their detractors. Fosamax, in particular, is the subject of one internet forum where users of the drug report a wide range of unpleasant and unwanted side effects.

Your doctor will also probably recommend a vitamin supplement as an additional osteoporosis medication. Certain vitamins, such as Calcium and Vitamin D, can slow down the process of osteoporosis. A diet which consists of a high amount of both of these vitamins, as well as other essential nutrients, is a main key to prevention of osteoporosis.

 

Research has shown that changes in diet can have a beneficial effect on osteoporosis, however a change in diet does not, of itself, constitute a complete osteoporosis treatment.

 

Research has also shown that there can be major steps taken towards combating osteoporosis by the use of high quality dietary supplements. Good quality nutritional supplements (and there are some very bad quality ones around) can help in the battle against this degenerative bone condition, and should be part of any total solution to osteoporosis.

 

There is also a good chance that your doctor will recommend you to stay active if you have osteoporosis. Exercise is known to work as an osteoporosis treatment medication, as it can help keep the bones in good health. A regular exercise routine is a main key to osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

The right treatment for osteoporosis varies according to person. What works for some may not work for others. Generally, however, a combination of dietary changes and high quality nutritional supplements aimed specifically at combating is ideal for the best results.

 

Once your doctor has confirmed that you have lost bone density or you have osteoporosis, it is important to talk about which osteoporosis medication is the right choice for you.

 

And remember, not all nutritional supplements are good quality, and it may surprise you to find out which company manufactures the best nutritional supplements. They certainly don’t sell them in your local drugstore.

 



Stacey

luvhrlysnjager2 asked:


There are hundreds of supplements I can take but I need one with vitamin D as that helps your body absorb the calcium. I would really like to know foods that are high in calcium. I have caught this early enough to prevent further damage and hope to do so.

Bill

nenemac1976 asked:


If my lumbar images are of good quality and my bone mass is normal. What is the treatment program that would allow me to stay this way?

Renee