Life Without Osteoporosis: A Woman's Resource for Prevention
Osteoporosis can be best thought of as a disease of one’s bones. This disease of the bones can also lead to an increased danger of a fracture of one’s bones happening. The bone mineral density is lessened in a person who has osteoporosis.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is very common for females after menopause. Some risk factors for men developing osteoporosis include being of a certain ethnicity (Asian or European ancestry in men), being exposed to metals and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis as they age because their bones become more fragile, just naturally, as they age.
Causes
The causes of osteoporosis can generally be divided into two categories: modifiable as well as nonmodifiable behaviors. For example, low dietary calcium that can lead to or is a part of a greater concern such as malnutrition is generally seen as a modifiable cause of osteoporosis. Other examples of modifiable or lifestyle causes of osteoporosis are things such as drinking too much, smoking (particularly tobacco), getting too little exercise or physical activity, conducting an excess of physical activity, vitamin D insufficiency, a diet that is high in protein, drinking too many soft drinks, and even being exposed too much to heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Nonmodifiable causes of osteoporosis can be things like gender, old age, deficiency in estrogen after menopause, low levels of testosterone, certain ethnicity types and a family history of osteoporosis or of bone fractures.
Osteoporosis is usually detected by way of simple radiography along with determining the mineral bone density of a person suspected of having osteoporosis. Blood tests are also useful in detecting osteoporosis, and blood tests are oftentimes used as a way to further confirm osteoporosis diagnoses that are made from radiography and any mineral bone density measurements. Even a dentist, who does not come up with the actual diagnosis of osteoporosis, can be useful in helping to arrive at a diagnosis of this disease of the bones. A dentist who suspects osteoporosis can order dental x-ray, especially if he observes receding gums in his patients. If the dental x-rays indicate bone losses, a dentist can reasonably suspect that the patient may have osteoporosis.
Prevention
Young women can take steps in the present day to lower the jeopardy of developing osteoporosis later on in their lives. For example, young women can commit themselves to staying on an osteoporosis prevention diet that includes certain kinds of minerals and vitamins in sufficient amounts. Foods that are generous sources of vitamin D, vitamin K and phosphorus as well as calcium are the cornerstone of a successful osteoporosis prevention diet. These foods include nuts like almonds, beans, canned salmon and sardines that still include the bones, soy milk and cereal that is fortified, cottage cheese, cheese, milk and yogurt.
Celiac disease is a disease of one’s small intestine, which can result in osteoporosis if left untreated. The reason is because the small intestine is incapable of absorbing such important nutrients like calcium, which in turn can lead to calcium insufficiency, a risk factor of developing osteoporosis. To lessen one’s risk for osteoporosis, those with celiac disease can simply exclude all forms of gluten from their diets, which should have the effect of their small intestine beginning to absorb nutrients like calcium properly. Early on in their lives, younger women can undertake other activities that will cut down on the risk of osteoporosis, such as limiting caffeine intake, stopping smoking (or not starting smoking at all), and even resistance exercises.
Once a positive diagnosis of diabetes is made, a person can be at risk for fracturing their bones with increased risk. As a result, a person may have to live a more cautious lifestyle that cuts down on risky activities that increase the potential for any bone fractures to occur. The treatment plan for osteoporosis usually involves the use of drugs and medication to counterattack the effects of osteoporosis on one’s bones. The types of medications that are available for this treatment approach can be broken down into two categories: bone anabolic agents and antiresorptive agents. Bone anabolic agents work mainly by way of building up the bones instead of resorpting them, while antiresorptive medications work mainly by way of limiting bone resorption. Osteoporosis drugs come with a vast array of possible side effects, and a few examples of these side effects can include things like the onset of flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, etc.), jawbone tissue death, higher risk of getting a blood clot, cancer, heart disease and leg cramps.
