Archive for August 31st, 2009

Stop Osteoporosis: Treatment For Thinning Bones

Monday, August 31st, 2009
osteoporosis
Suzanne Andrews asked:


orosis is a major health threat for 44 million Americans every year. 1 out of 2 women and 1 out of 8 men will get osteoporosis. If you’re a woman 50 or over listen up: ½ of all women in this age bracket don’t even know they have low bone mass. Osteoporosis puts people at a higher risk for painful fractures and decreasing your ability to lead a functional life. Osteoporosis isn’t picky either as it has lots of bones to choose from.

You have 206 bones in your body. So what do you think all these bones do? They aren’t just holding you up. Your bones are living storing materials. Think of your bones like a savings account. Bones have a storage vault: 95% of your body’s calcium is stored in your bones. You see, your body absolutely NEEDS calcium to survive. Calcium is even more important for nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and blood clotting. Calcium actually helps your heart contract because your heart is a muscle. So given a choice between making your heart beat or thinning your bones, your body will withdraw from your bone account leaving your savings weak, thin and frail. And that’s how you get Osteoporosis. You survive, but may be bound to a wheel chair and/or suffer a debilitating fracture. Osteoporosis is the most common cause of hip fractures, a tragedy that I am called upon to treat regularly. Hip fractures are painful and can result in permanent loss of independence and even death. Preventative action should be taken now. Weight Bearing and resistance exercises play an important role in Osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The earlier you begin to build a deposit in your bone bank, the healthier you will be.

Your bones are very complex living cells. Bones are not hollow: unless you look inside the middle of a bird bone. But if you haven’t noticed, we don’t fly too well. There is blood formation within your bones. Red cells carry oxygen and white blood cells to defend us against disease.

44 million Americans have low bone mass resulting in debilitating hip fractures and painful wrist fractures. The best exercises to increase bone density are weight bearing and gravity resistant activities. In order to build bone mass you need to overload your muscles with weights. Weights are not only great for changing the architecture of your bones, they also are readily available and keep you more functional with your activities of daily living.

6 Tips for Healthy Bones:

1. Do strength training 3 days a week every other day.

2. Ask your Doctor about a bone density test.

3. Check with your Doctor about medications that slow bone loss.

4. Eat a well balanced diet that includes the recommended daily amount of calcium for your gender and age.

5. Calcium is more readily absorbed with vitamin D. Talk to your Doctor about the correct amount.

6. To decrease falls that could lead to fractures, practice balance exercises.”



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The Back-Breaking Truth About Osteoporosis

Monday, August 31st, 2009
osteoporosis
sean sandvik asked:


The Back-breaking Truth About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that is common in women.  Approximately ten million American, eight million women and two million men, are affected by this condition.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that features loss of the bone’s normal density. It leads to abnormally porous bone that is more compressed like a sponge, than dense like a brick.  This disease weakens the bones and increases risks of having fractures.   Even a minor fall or injury may drive the bone to get a fracture.

A lot of factors may contribute to having Osteoporosis.  As we age, our body starts producing lesser calcium, causing natural abasement of the bone.  Certain medications may contribute to a loss of bone density.  And also having a certain bone condition called Osteopenia, which is low bone mass, increases the risk of having Osteoporosis.

How would I know if I have Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a silent disease, it has no specific symptom.  Its only main consequence is an increased risk of getting bone fractures.  Osteoporotic fractures happen in places a normal person would not normally fortuity bones, they are called fragility fractures.  These typically occur in the vertebral column, the hip and the wrist.

Some symptoms of fragility fractures in the vertebral column, also called vertebral collapse, are acute back pain and spinal cord compression.  The pain is caused by compressed nerves.  Multiple vertebral fractures may lead to a stooped posture, loss of height, and chronic pain which causes reduced mobility.

How is Osteoporosis treated?

There are several treatments available for people with Osteoporosis.  However, medical health professionals stressed the importance of a change of lifestyle in order to prevent the disease from developing.

Lifestyle change.  This includes integrating exercise into your schedule and quitting cigarette smoking. Exercise does not do anything to increase bone density, it does, however, improve your sense of balance and strengthen muscles to help prevent you from falls.  Cigarette smoking, on the other hand, decreases bone mass.  For pre-menopausal women, cigarette smoking decreases estrogen level, thereby decreasing bone mass.

Medications.  There are now medications available in the market that helps in stopping bone loss, some medications help increase bone strength, and some help increase bone formation.

Nutrition.  Eating foods rich in calcium will help supplement the loss calcium in the bones.  Vitamin D and protein, although good for muscle strength, have been proven to increase the risk of getting fractures.  It is not best to eat foods with high protein or Vitamin D content.

How can I prevent getting Osteoporosis?

 The best way to fight Osteoporosis is to not get it in the first place.  This condition is easily preventable by means of living a healthy lifestyle, exercise and proper diet.

 Performing exercise at an early age may help achieve higher peak bone mass and good muscle strength.  Having enough exercise helps delay bone abasement and decreases chances of acquiring Osteoporosis even at the later years of your life.  A well-balanced diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D for the bones and muscles will also help decrease the risk of getting Osteoporosis. 

Being health-conscious at an early age helps, so don’t wait until you’re old to start taking care of your bones.  They are, after all, holding you up and supporting you.

Quick Survey; 90% Of The World Is Right-Handed. What Are You? Right-Handed OR Are You Left-Handed



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