About Osteoporosis

Alien asked:


Osteoporosis is a disease of bone leading to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous 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 sex-matched healthy person average) as measured by DXA; the term “established osteoporosis” includes the presence of a fragility fracture.

How common is osteoporosis?

Women lose bone material more rapidly than men especially after the menopause when the level of oestrogen falls. Oestrogen is a female hormone and helps to protect against bone loss. By the age of 70 some women have lost 30% of their bone material. In the UK, about half of women and about 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will fracture a bone, many as a result of osteoporosis.

Types of Osteoporosis

The most common cause of osteoporosis is age. The older you get, the more bone loss you are likely to have, especially if you don’t take in enough calcium.

Osteoporosis also can be caused by diseases or other factors, such as:

* hormone problems

* poor diet

* certain medications

* too much smoking or drinking

Causes

The strength of your bones depends on their size and density; bone density depends in part on the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals bones contain. When your bones contain fewer minerals than normal, they’re less strong and eventually lose their internal supporting structure.

Symptoms

There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

Symptoms occurring late in the disease include:

* Fractures of the vertebrae, wrists, or hips (usually the first indication)

* Low back pain

* Neck pain

* Bone pain or tenderness

* Loss of height over time

* Stooped posture

Osteoporosis Treatment

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).

Self-Care at Home

If you suspect that you have signs or symptoms of osteoporosis or have risk factors for osteoporosis, see your doctor for further evaluation and treatment.

Preventing osteoporosis

Both men and women can take steps from a young age to prevent osteoporosis by ensuring they:

* Have a healthy and varied diet with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains

* Eat calcium rich foods

* Absorb enough Vitamin D

* Avoid smoking

* Limit alcohol consumption

* Limit caffeine

* Do regular weight bearing and strength training activities.

Holly

Rudy Silva asked:


If your doctor says your bone density is degenerating or that you have osteoporosis, what can you do? Most likely your doctor will want to put you on a drug. Since most drugs have real nasty side effects, after long term use, you may want to look for a natural alternative.

First of all, you need to make sure that you are getting a

good supplement of calcium and magnesium for reducing osteoporosis. For women up to 1200 mg to 1600 mg of calcium per day and about 600 mg to 800 mg of magnesium is recommended. And for real good calcium absorption take 500 mg of vitamin D. For men, use around 200 mg less than women, except for the vitamin D quantity.

Realize that calcium is a difficult mineral to absorb in your intestinal tract. Taking magnesium and vitamin D improves your absorption of calcium. Using an ionic form of calcium also improves your changes of absorbing more of this mineral.

Vitamin B12 reduces osteoporosis

There is one other nutrient that you should also take to increase your absorption of calcium. In a clinical study made at the University of California, they found that women who had the highest levels of vitamin B12 compared to the ones that had the lowest levels had a significant decrease in bone loss and bone fractures - reduced osteoporosis.

In another study done by Tufts University, they again found that in 2,500 men and women that high levels of vitamin B12 reduced their chances of getting osteoporosis.

Homocysteine

In previous articles, I had written of the other serious benefits of Vitamin B12 and the other B Vitamins, B6 and folic acid. These B vitamins are essential for reducing your homocysteine levels. Remember that high homocysteine levels and unchecked homocysteine levels in your blood lead to plaque buildup in blood vessels. Plaque build up in your blood vessels is probably the most serious condition that you will have to face as you age. Plaque buildup in the blood vessels is the major cause of cardiovascular disease or arthrosclerosis.

Celiac Disease encourages osteoporosis

In another article, I have also written about celiac disease. This is a disease where more than 1.5 million people have it and many don’t know it. It is a disease where grains (gluten) have destroyed the small intestines ability to absorb nutrients.

In studies, it has been shown that those with severe celiac disease

also have severe osteoporosis.

To make things worse, your ability to absorb Vitamin B12 decreases as you age, since you produce less intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is created in the stomach where it helps you adsorb more Vitamin B12.

Pharmaceuticals block calcium and encourage osteoporosis

Pharmaceuticals of various kinds, especially acid blockers, can also prevent you from properly absorbing Vitamin B12.

So now you can see that it’s necessary to supplement with calcium, magnesium, B12, B6, and folic acid to prevent or even reduce osteoporosis. Not only do these supplements help you with osteoporosis, but they also will reduce the plaque buildup in your artery walls.

Alicia

melonwater49 asked:


japan?
brazil?
india?

percent for any is nice tyvm

first one with a percent for all of them, or most, gets 10 points( sources must be sited!)

Pamela

Riana Lance asked:


The tendency to develop osteoporosis depends on a number of factors, important ones of which are listed below:

Age: The chances of getting osteoporosis increase in women after the age 45-50, while in men 65-70 years.

Gender: As compared to men, women are 4 times more susceptible to osteoporosis since their bones are lighter and thinner than of men.

Race: Studies have revealed that Asian and Caucasian women are more prone to get osteoporosis than other women are.

Bone structure and body frame: Shorter people are at a larger risk of osteoporosis, as they possess lesser bone mass, loss of even some of which can be critical enough to lead to osteoporosis. Thinner people are also at a greater risk of osteoporosis since they possess lesser fat. Fat cells make estrogen, whose deficiency causes bone loss in women.

Genetic factor: People with family history of osteoporosis are at a greater risk of osteoporosis.

Malnutrition: Lack of proper nourishment may lead to the deficiency of vital nutrients essential for the bone health (like calcium, vitamin D) and hence increase the risk of osteoporosis

Smoking: Smoking also enhances the risk of osteoporosis.

Alcohol use: In people who drink heavily, boss loss is far greater than its formation. However, a recent research has shown that consuming moderate amount of alcohol may actually increase the bone density. Thus, cutting down the amount of alcohol to mild or moderate amounts would be a better option for your bone health.

Soft drinks: Regular consumption of soft drinks with a high amount of phosphoric acid can hinder absorption of bone.

Sedentary lifestyle: Too little or physical activity and weight bearing exercises like walking, running, dancing, weight lifting or climbing stairs can weaken the bones. Exercises also make your balance better and reduce the likelihood of falling.

Certain medical conditions: If you are suffering from certain medical conditions, like hyperthyroidism, or have a disorder that hinders proper utilization of calcium and vitamin D, you at a larger risk for osteoporosis.

Certain medications: If you are on medications like corticosteroids, generally used for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma for 6 months or a longer period, you are susceptible to steroid-induced osteoporosis. These medications are the common cause of osteoporosis seen in men.

Caffeine: A high amount of caffeine can also increase the osteoporosis. Thus, you must limit the intake of coffee, tea, cola, chocolates etc.

Anorexia: Anorexia refers to loss of appetite due to certain medical condition or deliberately fasting to lose weight. Such a condition often creates a deficiency of nutrients (like calcium, vitamin D) required for bone formation, hence increasing the chances of getting osteoporosis.

Stephen