About Osteoporosis

William Lagadyn asked:


Can Heartburn Drugs Cause Osteoporosis?

According to a major medical study in England, that was conducted on heartburn and acid reflux, researchers found that Proton Pump Inhibitors such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid are exposing millions of users to the increased risk of Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become weakened and then are more likely to fracture. If left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks.

Any bone in your body can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip or spine fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk without help and may cause permanent disability or even death.

The study showed these drugs “inhibit the natural absorption of calcium” from food products, such as milk and cheese, which are a well-known source of calcium. However, some people are allergic to dairy products and even more people, are lactose-intolerant, leaving them unable to consume dairy products. However there are many other good food sources of calcium such as kelp, wakame and hijiki; nuts and seeds (like almonds and sesame); blackstrap molasses; beans; oranges; amaranth; collard greens; okra; rutabaga; broccoli; dandelion leaves; kale; and fortified products such as orange juice.

Calcium is essential in muscle contraction, oocyte activation, bones and tooth structure, blood clotting, nerve impulse transmission, regulating your heartbeat, and fluid balance within cells. It is a fact that between 50% and 75% of adults do not get sufficient calcium in their diet. Adults require a daily dose of between 1,000 and 1,300 mg of calcium.

When the body is not absorbing enough calcium through our diet it will leech the mineral it requires from our teeth and bones putting them in a weakened state. Once our bones start to deplete their calcium, we expose ourselves to “Osteoporosis” and the increased risk of hip and other bone fractures such as the wrist.

Hip fractures in the elderly often lead to life-threatening complications. Doctors should be convinced, their patients have a good reason to stay on heartburn medications long-term, said the study co-author Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

The study also went on to explain that H2 Blockers such as Tagamet and Pepcid also have a similar but slightly smaller risk of causing people to develop Osteoporosis, which exposes them the possibility of hip and other bone fractures. People who have taken any of these drugs for more than a year have a 44% higher risk of hip fractures than non-users of heartburn medications.

Millions of people around the world are at risk, although women are four times more likely than men to develop the condition. Yes it’s true, men also suffer from osteoporosis and put themselves at risk for hip, spine or wrist fractures.

Heartburn drug manufacturers put an insert in your package of drugs which clearly states in most cases that these meds are only to be taken for a short period of time. That period of time is usually two weeks, not for the rest of your life like some doctors are saying.

For more information on how to solve your digestive problems such as heartburn, acid reflux or GERD without the use of potentially dangerous drugs forever, please visit his website at: http://www.cureyourheartburn.com

Copyright 2007 William Lagadyn



Irene

odonche asked:


After research on the net and Yahoo questions, and on the basis of the valuable feedback I got from you, the best compromise of price, percentage of elemental calcium, and absorption seems to be calcium citrate (against orotate and ascorbate, too expensive). I read good things about amino acid chelates too.

My bone density is terribly low (65% of my age class, I’m a 40 y old male), and I’m already having a small fracture on the “plateau tibial” that’s lingering. So I’m tempted by exceeding the recommended dosage (on which, by the way, my doctors don’t seem to agree, ranging between 1 to 2 grams a day). Would increasing the dosage speed up the reconstruction and my overall density? What are the risks of taking too much calcium? Or would the extra calcium just be eliminated?

At the moment I take 1g of calcium carbonate in the morning, 1g in the evening, a monthly vial of vitamin D, and Fosamax.

Danielle

Sharon Bell asked:


Osteoporosis is a bone disease that affects millions of women around the world. Women who suffer from this condition usually have bone mineral density (BMD) levels that are way below than the normal BMD levels; making them more prone to getting fractures. You will also notice that the elderly women, and sometimes even men, who have osteoporosis are usually slouched and bent. Since inadequate bone density is not something that is tangible, individuals who suffer from this problem only realize that they have it when they begin developing bone fractures easily.

Reasons Why Women Are More Prone To Osteoporosis

Although men can also have bone-density woes, women are more at risk at developing this debilitating condition. One major reason why women are more susceptible to osteoporosis is due to hormonal imbalance. When a woman reaches menopause, the level of estrogen produced by the body start to dwindle. Experts believe that during menopause, women could lose their bone mineral density for a period of five to eight years. As a result, women’s bones become weak and easy to break after the menopausal stage.

Another reason why women are more susceptible to osteoporosis is that their bone structure is smaller or narrower than men. You do not need to be a genius to figure that the smaller your bones are, the more you are affected even by just a slight decline in your BMD level. Here are the steps you need to take in order to prevent osteoporosis:

Start Early

Prevention is always better than cure. In the case of osteoporosis, the earlier you start strengthening your bones, the higher your chances of not developing the disease even after menopause. You see, when you reach puberty, your bone mass would have developed by around 25%. By the age of 18, your bone mass development is already about 90%. The bone mass development peaks between the age of 25 and 30. After the age of 30, you may not be able to add substantial amount to your bone mass. All you can do at this time is to ensure that you maintain your bone density levels.

Aim To Reach Your Daily Calcium Requirement

Calcium is a crucial component of a healthy bone. If you want your bones to be strong, you need to make sure that you reach the daily requirement of calcium everyday. One of the best sources of calcium is milk and other dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese and eggnog. Other good sources of calcium include brocolli, spinach, rhubarb, salmon, tofu, okra, sesame seeds, bok choy, sardines and almonds.

Let The Sun Shine On You

In order for calcium to be absorbed efficiently, you need Vitamin D. You can get a good dose of this essential vitamin for free just by letting the sun shine on you. The best hours to bask in the sun, even for just 10 minutes, is early in the morning. However, it is important to note that too much sun exposure, particularly from 10 am to 4 pm, can cause skin cancer.

Exercise Your Way To Stronger Bones

If you want to prevent fractures, you also need to strengthen the muscles surrounding your bones and joints. As we all know, our muscles support our bones. Even if you have strong bones, but your muscles are weak, you still are at risk of hurting yourself, especially when you are performing strenuous activities and other sports. Thirty minutes of exercise, particularly weight training, three times a week is ideal.

Since not all the needed nutrients for a healthy bone mass can be obtained from the food that you eat everyday, it is best to take supplements. Just make sure that your supplement has high calcium and vitamin D content. One product that can provide you with your daily calcium and vitamin D needs is Osteozyne. Visit www.Osteozyne.com to know more about this product.



Josephine

tria_n asked:


concern is about side effects and overall appropriateness of zoloft which has been prescribed for her.

Edna

Cathy Taylor asked:


We know that our bodies require calcium and vitamin D in order to build and maintain powerful bones. According to his recent book entitled, “Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis,” by Dr. Alan Gaby, it takes more vitamins than we think to prevent brittle bones including Vitamins K and B; as well as minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine, silica and boron.

The idea is to provide enough combined supplementation for our bodies to make an abundance of healthy collagen which is the connective tissue used to create cartilage and bones. Collagen also ‘binds’ our cells together and as a result, someone with good collagen has healthy looking skin whereas another will have thin and wrinkled skin.

A healthy bone cut in half looks similar to a sponge. The body deposits calcium, phosphorus and other minerals onto all of those connective fibers and you get healthy bones! The holes give the bone its flexibility, and you won’t have healthy bones if you don’t have plenty of collagen on which to deposit the minerals.

Collagen is primarily a protein which is made from amino acids. Our bodies can create some of our requirements but we also need additional amounts from our foods and supplements including lysine and praline. Vitamin C is also required to create collagen.

Now we know how bones can be made stronger, but how is this process affected by menopause? The loss of estrogen due to menopause or possibly surgical removal of the ovaries can accelerate bone loss for a period of up to 8 years. It is well established that replacing that estrogen helps protect against the risk of osteoporosis.

More often, women’s bones become fragile as we age and it’s not uncommon to break bones in the wrist, spine and hip due to osteoporosis. Unfortunately, a fracture such as in the hip, can even shorten our life span so it is important to pay attention to our bone health.

What should be done to prevent osteoporosis from happening after menopause?

First of all, eat the foods that are calcium-rich (about 1,000 mg per day) and can enhance bone growth including: sardines, salmon, seafood, and green leafy vegetables such as swiss chard, beet tops, kale, mustard greens, collards, spinach, dandelion greens, watercress, parsley, chicory, turnip greens, broccoli leaves, almonds, asparagus, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, cabbage, carob, figs, filberts, oats, prunes, sesame seeds, tofu and other soy products. Vitamin D-rich foods include fish oils such as found in salmon, mackerel, sardines), eggs (including the yolks), sweet potatoes, tuna, vegetable oils and cod liver oil. Getting 15-20 minutes of sunlight exposure daily can also boost production of vitamin D.

Exercise is crucial; in particular, you need weight-bearing exercise such as walking, Tai chi, dancing and weight training to reduce the chances of brittle bones at least two times a week. Include 15 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity two to three times a week. Avoid high-impact activities and include stretching exercises.

Finally, use high-quality supplements prescribed by your doctor or health-care provider, and oh yeah, don’t forget to have fun.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.



Joann

Peter Kent asked:


For individuals who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, they have developed a condition in which the bones are extremely porous and prone to breaking — especially among the wrist, hip or spine bones, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF).

How Common is Osteoporosis?

Currently, approximately 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, which is more common among women, affecting nearly 8 million women and only two million men. The NOF estimates an additional 34 million more Americans are likely at risk for developing osteoporosis because of low bone mass. It is estimated that osteoporosis costs will skyrocket by 2025, and may reach $25.3 billion.

Risks of Osteoporosis

While it is difficult to determine who is at risk for osteoporosis because its “invisible” side effects, the following are risk factors among individuals more likely to develop the condition, as reported by the NOF:

* age (an increase in age increases disease likelihood)

* sex (females more likely at risk)

* family history

* thin or small bone frame

* race/ethnicity (Caucasions, Asians and Hispanics most at risk)

* history of broken bones

* inactive lifestyle (those who don’t lift weights or exercise)

* smoking

* diet, including low calcium and vitamin D intake a well as high intake of protein, caffeine and sodium

* alcohol abuse

* consumption of medications such as steroid or anticonvulsant medicines

* history of certain illnesses such as gastronintestinal conditions, rheumatoid arthritis or anorexia nervosa

Treating Osteoporosis

Researchers continue to develop and research potential osteoporosis treatments, but there are several treatments currently available for victims of the condition. Treatments may also include the following, according to the Mayo Clinic:

* hormone treatments

* bisphosphonates, which are drugs similar to estrogen that preserve bone mass

* estrogen recepter modulators (SERMs) including Raloxifene, a drug that mimics estrogen’s positive effects on bone mass

* calcitonin, which is a hormone produced by the thyroid to slow bone loss

* Teriparatide (forteo), which is given to high-risk women, however the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is, according to the Mayo Clinic, still studying long term side effects

* receiving treatments of a synthetic hormone Tamoxifen

* physical therapy treatments, as lifting weights and regular exercise promotes positive health and slows bone loss.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), additional studies of new drug therapies as well as potential osteoporosis risks are continually being researched, with a lot of work being done by the American College of Physicians and National Institute of Arthritis and Muscoskeletal and Skin Diseases including a recent study on bone mass and body fat.

Increased Chance of Osteoporosis

Individuals who have developed osteoporosis, which was derived from using a prescription pharmaceutical, such as the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are encouraged to not only seek medical assistance for their condition, but to also contact an experienced pharmaceutical law firm.

Commonly used for treating ulcers, acid reflux, heartburn among other hydrochloric acid conditions, PPIs are a family of drugs that reduce gastric acid production within the body. They function by binding the stomach to prevent hydrochloric acid production, however, they have recently been linked to a reduction of calcium absorption leading to early onset osteoporosis, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It is important that an individual who has suffered from osteoporosis caused by proton pump inhibitors contact a legal professional who may be able to provide insightful information on a PPI lawsuit.

Developing a PPI class action lawsuit may lead to an award of monetary compensation for a victim of PPI-induced osteopororis. Contacting an experienced proton pump inhibitor law firm is an advisable action for patients suffering from PPI-induced osteopororsis.



Maria