About Osteoporosis

Nathalie Fiset asked:


Menopause occurs when there is not enough supply of estrogen in the body. With the absence of this important hormone in a woman’s body, there are lot of adjustments to be done and changes to prepare for.

Studies show that the loss of estrogens accelerates bone loss in the span of five to eight years. One of the most common areas affected by the loss of estrogen in the body is the skeletal systemspecifically the bones that lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, as defined, pertains to the thinning of the bones. As the bones become thinner and thinner, it becomes weaker and breaks more easily. The bones that are often affected include those of the spine, wrists, and hips.

COMBATING OSTEOPOROSIS CAUSED BY MENOPAUSE

As women grow older and older, risks of having osteoporosis becomes greater. Studies show that aside from aging, more and more women and men suffer become prone to osteoporosis especially if he/she has a family history of osteoporosis, fair skinned like blonds and red heads, engage in low calcium diet, lives a sedentary or physically inactive, underweight, obese, smokers and those with serious illness and disease.

In order to avoid, or at least, lessen the burden of having osteoporosis, here are some recommended lifestyle changes that you can do by yourself.

1.Have enough calcium in your body. In order to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, men women alike should start taking about 1,000 mg of calcium every day that is equals to about three serves of dairy food. Calcium is naturally found in various foods and can also be added in powder form. Having enough calcium supply in your diet will ensure strengthened bones. Aside from eating foods rich in calcium, taking in calcium tablets can also support your calcium supply. For those who are drinking calcium to avoid further osteoporic problem, bear in mind that you should reach a total daily intake of 1,000 milligrams daily before menopause and 1,500 milligrams daily after menopause.

2.Physical activity is quite crucial to avoid further complications of osteoporosis. Recent studies show that people with or without osteoporosis can also benefit from spontaneous physical activity. Doing regular exercises like walking throughout your life can help in the reduction of osteoporosis risks because it reduces the rate of bone loss while protecting the remaining bone tissues. Experts say that the required minimum exercise for people who are suffering with osteoporosis is still unknown, but physical activity of 15 to 60 minutes at least thrice a week in highly recommended. Here are some of the general recommendations for exercise approved by most experts.
-Make sure that you have visited your doctor or health care provider before you start any exercise program.
-If you are already suffering from osteoporosis, avoid high impact activities or those exercise requiring sudden and forceful movements.
-Light weight-bearing exercises such as walking, dancing, and weight training are generally recommended.
-Make sure that you can sustain the frequency of your physical activity.
-Take strength training at least once or twice a week to prepare your body to more strenuous physical activities.
-Choose exercises that flexibility exercises or stretching.
-No matter how you love the water, avoid swimming because it’s not a weight bearing exercise. The buoyancy of the water will only counteract the effects of gravity and will be more difficult for you to maintain your balance.
-Choose exercises that will help you reduce bone loss, improve your muscle strength, balance, and fitness so the incidence of falls and fractures will be lessened.

Indeed, there is no easy way to address osteoporosis. Being a complex condition involving hormonal, lifestyle, nutritional, and environmental factors, osteoporosis can only be cured through proper exercise, diet, and supplements. Aside from these, medical preventions and treatments such as hormone therapy (HT), Bisphosphonates, selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), potential therapies like Tibolone (Livial) and parathyroid hormone are available today.

Regina

Ray Attebery asked:


To protect your bones from osteoporosis, look beyond calcium, suggests a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

After studying more than 2,000 men and women ages 70 to 79, researchers learned people consuming the most magnesium had denser bones, which helps prevent osteoporosis.

Though clinical trials will be needed to clarify magnesiums role, researchers say the study results add to previous research that shows the mineral is a key player in the fight against osteoporosis. The strength of the association is similar to a previous study of calcium intake and bone density, says lead study author Kathryn M. Ryder, M.D., M.Sci., associate professor of medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.

The recommended dietary allowance for men is 420 milligrams (mg) of magnesium per day; for women, 320 mg per day. Dr. Ryder advises reaching this goal through food alone. Check out our handy grocery list for some delicious options to help prevent osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about supplements if you can not take in enough magnesium through foods, says Dr. Ryder. And start low. High doses of magnesium supplements may cause diarrhea and cramping.

Grocery List: Magnesium

FOOD DAILY VALUE MET
3 oz cooked halibut_________________20% 1 oz dry roasted almonds_____________________20% 1/2 cup frozen, cooked spinach______________20% 1/2 cup cooked soybeans____________________________20%
Instant oatmeal with water__________15%
Medium potato with skin_____________15%
2 T peanut butter___________________15%
8 oz plain nonfat yogurt____________10%
3/4 cup bran flakes_________________10%
1/2 cup brown rice__________________10%
1/2 cup kidney beans_________________8%
1 cup chocolate milk (2% or skim)____8%
1 medium banana______________________8%
1 slice whole wheat bread____________6%
1/4 cup raisins______________________6%

Move right, Eat Right To find out how food and exercise choices affect bone health and help prevent osteoporosis, we spoke with Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., associate professor at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston and author of Strong Women, Strong Bones.

What are your exercise tips for strong bones? Strength training and weight-bearing exercises. Weight-bearing exercise means you are truly bearing your weight, as in walking, jogging, skipping, jumping, playing tennis. With the strength training, you will want it to be progressive, using heavier weights over time.

Besides calcium, what should you consume for bone strength? Vitamin D is also important, but it is really about establishing healthy habits. You should eat at least three low-fat dairy foods, five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables, three of protein (meat, fish, eggs) and six servings of whole grains daily. Do this, and you will get the nutrients that are good for bones. Then choose a supplement to make up any deficit you might have.

Strong bones go a long way toward osteoporosis prevention. So remember to exercise and choose delicious foods containing magnesium and vitamin D, as well as calcium.

Don

sierra_06 asked:


How does one’s food pattern over time contribute to the development of Diabetes, Heart disease, Osteoporosis, or Cancer?

Tom

Mick Hince asked:


Within this article the aim is to point people in the right direction with regard to Osteoporosis prevention. As most people know Osteoporosis is a bone crippling disease which can affect anyone at any time of life.

The highest area of sufferers is women in the age group of 50 plus years, and in most cases it revolves around the onset of menopause where the body tends to deprive the patient of the vitamins and supplements that are needed to combat this problem.

Men do suffer as well but not to such a high degree, and when they do it normally boils down to the fact that they have over done the alcohol intake or have smoked too many cigarettes. Both alcohol and cigarettes are said to me major factors in both men and women.

All over the world there are countless thousands of new cases every year, and this is not just confined to the western world as many countries have people that are under nourished and lack the vital supplements.

It is also fair to say that most people only find out they are suffering from Osteoporosis when they have a broken bone or fracture so I believe that Osteoporosis prevention should be as common as women checking themselves for breast cancer.

The main prevention or defence against Osteoporosis is by making sure the body has the right supply that it needs. This means upping the intake of things like Calcium, and by eating the right foods.

By the right foods I mean fresh fruit and vegetables, and by staying away from sugar based products and products with a high preservative level which tends to rule out a lot of pre-prepared foods, and fast foods.

A good way to look at the prevention of Osteoporosis is to visualise that the body is approximately 70% water, and as water has a ph level either of acidic or alkaline make up it is always advisable to move to the alkaline side of your intake. This means that foods with a high acidic value such as meat are not really the best for the body as the acidic content will be the base of what causes problems.

The suggestion is to have one meal a day on things like mixed fruit. Try mixing melon with red fruits, apples, plums etc. All of which have an alkaline make up.

Please note that I am not a Doctor or am I anyway qualified to give nutritional advice, and it is always advisable to check with your Doctor or a Nutritionist.

Troy

♠♣♥Rogue♣♥♠ asked:


I have a bowl of cereal every night since I was a kid. It is a really healthy substitute for any other night snacks I could be eating. But will it help prevent Osteoporosis?

Lucy

jamilajan asked:


was there a hobbie you had to give up? What was other ppl’s reaction to you?

Lois

Michael Porteous asked:


A lot more is known about Osteoporosis than a few years ago but the myths and lies of the corporations that benefit from the sales of ineffectual and even dangerous drugs still persist. These Osteoporosis facts will destroy many of the myths and beliefs long held in the community about this bone condition!

Osteoporosis Fact 1 - Low estrogen levels do not cause osteoporosis!

For many years the public and medical profession has been fed incorrect information about how Osteoporosis works and how it can be treated. By redefining the condition, meddling with statistics and withholding vital medical information from tests the big drug companies that had been looking for a way to sell their hormone replacement pills had found a new market.

By convincing the populace with a major marketing campaign the companies whose estrogen supplements had suffered a major loss as research showed it had major side effects with cancer being the major problem. Suddenly it seemed common knowledge that lack of Estrogen which occurs in older women after menopause was what caused low bone density!

This was not true but the marketing campaign backed by corrupt studies had everyone convinced so the sales of these products despite their risks skyrocketed.

There is in fact no proof that low estrogen levels causes Osteoporosis. Women from many cultures have been tested and it is found that older women from all over the world do suffer any major Osteoporosis problems on the whole.

Osteoporosis Fact 2 - Increasing calcium intake will not stop Osteoporosis!

Osteoporosis and lower bone density does have a lot to do with calcium in that the condition strips calcium from the bone leaving it frail. However drinking more milk and eating more dairy is not the answer. Our modern western lifestyles that are high in protein and dairy actually leaves our blood much more acidic than other people, this acidic blood strips calcium from the bone to equalize the bloods acid level but that calcium is not replaced. Unfortunately dairy food while high in calcium also increases the bloods acid levels making it of little benefit to someone already on the way to Osteoporosis.

To back this up there have been studies that have shown that people from traditionally low dairy diets in certain parts of the world do not suffer Osteoporosis to any great degree!

Osteoporosis Fact 3 - Osteoporosis is not genetic!

As with the last point we see that Osteoporosis is caused by conditions in our diet, not by the predisposition of our parents. Some people may be more at risk than others due to different body types but Osteoporosis is certainly a lifestyle condition more than anything else.

Osteoporosis Fact 4 - Osteoporosis is not about age!

Some people believe that Osteoporosis is just another part of getting old. While it is more noticeable in older people this is caused by a lifetime of problems that have led to the conditions that will show themselves later in life. The truth is that this condition is preventable with he right diet and exercise, especially weight bearing and resistance exercise that helps in bone development.

Osteoporosis Fact 5 - You can cure Osteoporosis!

Osteoporosis is not some disease that when you have it you must suffer it forever, it is a reversible condition! While prevention is easier and better than curing Osteoporosis building healthy bones from a low bone density base can be done by changing your lifestyle with diet and exercise!

Ramon

shermantank22000 asked:


I have been taking prescriptions meds for osteoporosis for 5 years. My bone density tests show no improvement, slight worsening of osteoporosis. My doctor says it’s severe. I have a medical condition called gastroesophageal reflux for which I take medication and the osteoporosis meds seem to affect my reflux, also I have not felt well generally since I’ve been on the meds for osteoporosis, i.e. aching muscles and bone pain. I take Calcium with Vitamin D - I drink milk - are there any herbal or over-the-counter natural products that would be just as good as prescription medications for osteoporosis?

Theodore

Peter Kent asked:


Avandia, a type 2 diabetes drug no more than 10 years old has been linked to several health risks among long-term users including heart disease and most recently an increased risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is when the bones lose density and are weakened becoming more prone to breaks and fractures. Osteoporosis is usually associated with the elderly population, which is why it becomes increasingly alarming to discover a link between Avandia users and osteoporosis.

Dangerous Avandia Side-Effects

Avandia is an oral anti-diabetic medication that has been associated with congestive heart failure, according to warnings released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Marketers of Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline, stand by their product and insist it is an important treatment for type 2 diabetes sufferers. The FDA placed yet another “black box” warning on the drug. One of the highest warnings given on a medication by the FDA is the black label warning, which Avandia currently has for its association with heart failure. The FDA has continually updated warnings for Avandia and its risk to users to cause heart failure, but no warning has yet to be placed on the drug for its alleged association with osteoporosis. But for those who are currently or have in the past taken the drug, contacting an attorney who can offer advice on how to receive probable compensation for the potentially irreversible damage is a wise decision.

Overcoming the Avandia Osteoporosis Risk

For users of Avandia as well as other type 2 diabetes drugs recently released on the market, it is advisable to speak with an experienced diabetes law firm who can offer advice on building a potential case and receiving compensation for having taken Avandia or other type 2 diabetes drugs, which may also cause the increased risk of osteoporosis. Diabetes is a dangerous and at times life threatening disease, which is why additional side effects can be imposing on a user. But the best way to overcome potential harm is to not only contact a doctor to better understand steps to protect yourself, but to contact a law firm and become aware of the latest news and findings.

Pedro

Michael Porteous asked:


They myth of Osteoporosis has been fleecing people for decades now especially middle aged women and older. This one Osteoporosis fact will help you see that the medications and “expert” advice you get is flawed and based off false assumptions and plain simple corporate greed!

Osteoporosis Fact - Low estrogen levels do not cause osteoporosis!

For many years the public and medical profession has been fed incorrect information about how Osteoporosis works and how it can be treated. By redefining the condition, meddling with statistics and withholding vital medical information from tests the big drug companies that had been looking for a way to sell their hormone replacement pills had found a new market.

By convincing the populace with a major marketing campaign the companies whose estrogen supplements had suffered a major loss as research showed it had major side effects with cancer being the major problem. Suddenly it seemed common knowledge that lack of Estrogen which occurs in older women after menopause was what caused low bone density!

This was not true but the marketing campaign backed by corrupt studies had everyone convinced so the sales of these products despite their risks skyrocketed.

There is in fact no proof that low estrogen levels causes Osteoporosis. Women from many cultures have been tested and it is found that older women from all over the world do suffer any major Osteoporosis problems on the whole.

Further research has shown that the real cause of Osteoporosis is in our lifestyle. By taking in too much protein from our western diets and not doing enough exercise, especially weight and resistance work we endanger our bones. Too much processed food, meat and even dairy products make our blood more acidic which can strip bones of the vital calcium to support it. This calcium cannot be replaced easily while the blood remains this toxic and so a cycle of bone degradation continues causing Osteoporosis.

The major Osteoporosis fact is that it is a lifestyle condition! The good news is it CAN be prevented and reversed as long as we know how to manage our body properly and have the discipline to make it work!

Nellie