| Has your doctor suggested you need a bone mineral | | | | describes bones that are weak and brittle - so brittle |
| density test? | | | | t hat even mild stresses like bending over, lifting a |
| "Bone mineral density testing is a poor predictor of | | | | vacuum cleaner or coughing can cause a fracture. In |
| future fractures, but an excellent predictor of the | | | | most cases, bones weaken when you have low |
| start of drug use." | | | | levels of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in |
| Barbara Mintzes, University of British Columbia | | | | your bones. |
| British Medical Journal, 4/13/02 | | | | A common result of porous bones is fractures - |
| Osteopenia is the word used to describe loss of | | | | most of them in the spine, hip or wrist. Although it's |
| bone density and is thought to be a precursor to | | | | often thought of as a woman's disease, osteoporosis |
| Osteoporosis. The term Osteopenia did not even | | | | also affects many men. And aside from people who |
| exist until a little over a decade ago. It became | | | | have osteoporosis, many more have low bone |
| popular in medical literature about the same time as | | | | density. |
| the drug Fosamax entered the market. | | | | It's never too late - or too early - |
| Osteopenia refers to bone mineral density (BMD) that | | | | You can take steps to keep bones strong and |
| is lower than normal peak BMD but not low enough | | | | healthy throughout life. |
| to be classified as Osteoporosis. Bone mineral density | | | | I have many younger friends who have been told |
| is a measurement of the level of minerals in the | | | | that they have Osteopenia. As a result, they have |
| bones, which indicates how dense and strong they | | | | been prescribed a medication that they have been |
| are. If your BMD is low compared to normal peak | | | | instructed to take for the rest of their lives! The |
| BMD, you are said to have Osteopenia. Having | | | | medicine is extremely expensive and as they have |
| osteopenia means there is a greater risk, that as | | | | yet to find all the side effects, it appears that the |
| time passes, you may develop BMD that is very low | | | | only one who will really benefit from it is the drug |
| compared to normal, known as osteoporosis. | | | | company that produces it. |
| What causes Osteopenia? | | | | In 2006, for example, these drugs became the |
| Bones naturally become thinner as people grow older | | | | second most profitable prescribed and used drug in |
| because, beginning in middle age, existing bone cells | | | | the United States, netting $3.2 billion in sales. |
| are reabsorbed by the body faster than new bone is | | | | The medical establishment and media are touting |
| made. As this occurs, the bones lose minerals, | | | | Fosamax--and similar drugs in the category of |
| heaviness (mass), and structure, making them | | | | bisphosphonates--as the answer to bone density |
| weaker and increasing their risk of breaking. All people | | | | problems. That is far from the truth. |
| begin losing bone mass after they reach peak BMD | | | | Particularly when it comes to drugs, whenever you |
| at about 30 years of age. | | | | hear an assertion, it behooves you to note the |
| Theoretically, the more dense your bones are at | | | | source. We must realize that when we hear about |
| about age 30, the longer it takes to develop | | | | drug research in the news, the report usually comes |
| osteopenia or osteoporosis. | | | | from the company that is producing the drug, so the |
| Some people who have osteopenia may not have | | | | chances of pro-drug bias are extremely high. |
| bone loss; they may just naturally have a lower bone | | | | And there is a natural remedy that is incredibly safer |
| density. Osteopenia may also be the result of a wide | | | | and cheaper, and the user doesn't experience |
| variety of other conditions, disease processes, or | | | | counterproductive side effects. Instead, the inclusion |
| treatments. | | | | of several bone-growth-enhancing minerals and |
| "Osteoporosis is a more advanced condition in which | | | | vitamins results in the growth of dense, strong |
| the bones have become increasingly porous, brittle, | | | | bones. How do I know? It happened for me! |
| and subject to fracture, owing to loss of calcium and | | | | Dr. Nan Fuchs, in her special report, Bone Health |
| other mineral components, sometimes resulting in | | | | News, (May 2008) has warned that in the results of |
| pain, decreased height, and skeletal deformities: | | | | the bone density scan, it appears that the bone has |
| common in older persons, primarily postmenopausal | | | | become more dense after a patient has been on |
| women, but also associated with long-term steroid | | | | Fosamax. However, the truth is that it is not due to |
| therapy and certain endocrine disorders". | | | | new bone growth. The drug simply prevents the old |
| Women are far more likely to develop osteopenia | | | | calcium from leaving the bone in the natural break |
| and osteoporosis than men. This is because women | | | | down and replacement process that our Designer |
| have a lower peak BMD and because the loss of | | | | planned. Therefore the bone more dense, but at the |
| bone mass speeds up as hormonal changes take | | | | same time it is becoming more brittle, which is |
| place at the time of menopause. It has been found | | | | definitely not an advantage. |
| that prescribed Estrogen seems to help increase | | | | Having broken the same hip TWICE-and then having |
| bone density. However, estrogen supplementation | | | | had operations both times to take out the pins, |
| has also been linked to higher incidence of breast and | | | | screws, and metal plate, I can attest to the fact that |
| ovarian cancer and heart disease. | | | | there is a safer, far more successful way to deal |
| Osteoporosus, which literally means "porous bones," | | | | with bone health --through several natural nutrients. |