Osteoporosis and its Effects on Our Daily Lives

Effects of osteoporosis to the bones

Osteoporosis is the condition whereby bones become brittle or porous and are prone to easy breakage even in cases of very slight accidents. This mostly comes as a result of the depletion of very important bone minerals such as calcium. The vulnerability of bones is about one out of five in males and one out of two in females according to research in the UK.

The depletion of bone minerals is a long term process as it starts in the middle ages all through to old age without detection and this makes osteoporosis to be referred to as a silent disease. Broken hips, wrists and spines are greatly associated fractures that come about because of osteoporosis cases.

Spine and hip fractures are in most cases very serious and specialized medication and treatment is necessary as they could lead to permanent damages and even death. Serious back pains could be experienced, bending and deformity and would need surgery to handle the cases.

Susceptibility to osteoporosis after menopause in women is high due to the fact that they can loose huge percentages of bone up to about 20& in just five years after menopause. This is also due to the reduced levels of estrogen at this time.

Old age and family history could be some reasons to watch out to know that you stand possible risks of developing osteoporosis.

Reduced testosterone and estrogen levels in men plays a major role in their development of osteoporosis just as amenorrhea (missing periods) does in women.

Rheumatoid arthritis, anorexia nervosa, gastrointestinal diseases and many others are diseases that could make ones chances of developing osteoporosis high.

Anti convulsions and medication with steroids also increase chances of a persons’ development of osteoporosis as a health risk.

Thinness could also increase chances for the development of osteoporosis, as well as having suffered broken bones in the past. It is however not advisable to be overweight to maintain your bones as it also imposes you with other health dangers.

Although ethnicity is also a factor, it has not been able to be used to eliminate any race from this health risk.

Observing proper dietary requirements should always be maintained to avoid this health risk that poses great problems to many people in old age. Avoid too much caffeine sodium and protein sources.

The main causes of osteoporosis in most people

Bones build up at the tender ages up to around the age of 20 with the help of building cells. Accumulation of bone minerals at this young age becomes a very vital protective tool at later times in life.

During this period, the building cells overpower destructive cells that otherwise become dominant after the age of 30. They cause the building cells to go down in their activities of making replacement of destroyed bones almost impossible and resultant loss of bone mass, comes about as a result of depletion of bone minerals.

This leads to the bones being porous and brittle and definitely osteoporosis is developed in the end. The risk is much greater at the age of 40 onwards with any slight strain on the bones being a health risk.

Measures necessary for the Prevention of osteoporosis

-         Inclusion of calcium rich foods in the diet is very advisable so as to avoid suffering numerous fractures as a result of osteoporosis.

Foods such as spinach, broccoli, almonds, salmon, Soya beans, yam, garlic, pumpkin, apple, beetroot, pawpaw, skimmed or low fat dairy products and onions You should ensure that your diet also has enough vitamin D giving foods like Soya beans, sunflower and salmon.

-         Taking up of muscle strengthening exercises and weight bearing will help bones to be able to develop resistance to pressure.

-         Too much alcohol and smoking is not good for your bones health at all and should be avoided.

-         It is important to get some knowledge about maintenance of healthy bones from a professional so as to evade any potential risks.

-         Bone density testing should be taken on a regular basis and incase of an already present case, follow medication strictly as prescribed by the doctor.

-         Engage on preventive programs available in health care centers in your area in order to avoid chances of cases such as hip fractures.

-         Ensure that you have the appropriate bone mass. 85-90% for girls at the age of 18 and boys at the age of 20 should be the acquired bone mass for a healthy adult hood.

Most vulnerable segment of our population to osteoporosis condition

-         Osteoporosis is quite dominant at old age but that is not an exclusive case as it can affect one at any age.

-         It is estimated that about 10 million people in the US have osteoporosis and around other 34 million have developed low bone mass making them to be at great risks of developing osteoporosis in the near future.

-         In America, 44 million individuals are estimated to be having this unhealthy bones problem and about 55% of those who have attained the age of 50 and above are already faced with the problem of osteoporosis. Out of every 10 million Americans having osteoporosis, research has it that eight million sufferers are women while only two million are found out to be males.

-         Women are found to be very prone to this bone disease with 8& having osteoporosis and only 2& of men report osteoporosis cases.

Some of the common Symptoms of osteoporosis

Due to the silence nature with which this health problem attacks the body, it is never easy to detect impending danger before fractures become the order of a person’s daily agony after the bones have become too weak to sustain any slight pressure.

Drastic loss of bone mass could also be noted and provide enough evidence of osteoporosis being on the loom.

Spinal fractures could be associated with back pains in ability to walk straight making you to have a stooping posture, kyphosis which is a deformity in the spine and an ironic case where the vertebral (spinal) fracture presents no pain at all.

Recommendations on the control of osteoporosis

Eat foods rich in calcium to provide your body with adequate dietary need. Eat bonny fish, nuts, pulses, seeds, cereals, green vegetables and dried fruit as they will give you a lot of calcium for the health of your bones.

The absorption of calcium in the body is greatly aided by vitamin D. and this can be got in appropriate amounts by exposing the skin to sunlight. About 10 mg of vitamin D supplement can however be taken by those unable to get sunlight due to various cases like being bed ridden, religious reasons and many more.

Fortified margarines, milk and oily fish are also good dietary sources of vitamin D and would be very essential in ensuring the maintenance of healthy bones and the prevention of osteoporosis.

Avoid the intake of too much protein, carbonated soft drinks, coffee, salt, alcohol and smoking as they mainly deplete your bones of necessary bone minerals.

Smoking reduces the efficiency of bone building cells and so should be avoided.

Maintain an average body weight that can provide your bones with the ability to be able to withstand pressure and develop resistance incase of accidents to help you to avoid the risk of multiple fractures and possibly osteoporosis.

Magnesium rich foods should be taken as its acute deficiency could severely alter calcium levels in the blood and lead to muscle inactivity and weak bones that would possibly put you at high risks of getting osteoporosis.

Vitamin K is very essential in bone development and could be nutritiously got by eating of plenty of fruits and green leafy vegetables. Fruits and green leafy vegetables also reduce acidity in the bones making it possible for calcium to be adequately maintained within the bones.

Adequate exercises right from tender ages helps to maintain good healthy bones right through to old age.