| Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones characterized | | | | lost as the level of estrogen decreases. |
| by a decrease in bone mass and structural | | | | Other causes of osteoporosis are heredity and |
| deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility | | | | lifestyle. Whites and Asians, tall and thin women and |
| and increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, | | | | those with a history of osteoporosis are those at |
| spine and wrist. | | | | the highest risk of getting osteoporosis. The |
| The word "osteoporosis" literally means "porous | | | | behavioral causes of increasing the risk of |
| bones." Osteoporosis (pronounced | | | | osteoporosis are smoking, alcohol abuse, prolonged |
| OSS-tee-o-puh-RO-sis) occurs when bones begin to | | | | inactivity and a diet low in calcium. |
| lose some of their essential elements. The most | | | | Symptoms and Treatment |
| important of these elements is calcium. Over time, | | | | Usually, osteoporosis does not cause any symptoms |
| bone mass decreases. As a result, bones lose their | | | | at first. Osteoporosis is often called the "silent" |
| strength, become fragile, and break easily. In | | | | disease, because bone loss occurs without |
| extreme cases, even a sneeze or a sudden | | | | symptoms. People often don't know they have the |
| movement may be enough to break a bone. | | | | disease until a bone breaks, frequently in a minor fall |
| Osteoporosis affects millions of older adults, usually | | | | that wouldn't normally cause a fracture. Many people |
| striking after 60. Although it is most commonly found | | | | confuse osteoporosis with arthritisand believe they |
| in women, it is not unheard of in men. Osteoporosis | | | | can wait for symptoms such as swelling and joint |
| can be very far along before it became noticeable. | | | | pain to occur before seeing a doctor. It should be |
| Sometimes the first sign is a broken bone in the hip, | | | | stressed that the mechanisms |
| spine, or wrist after a bump or fall. As the disease | | | | Treatment for osteoporosis includes eating a diet rich |
| gets worse, other signs may appear such as pain in | | | | in calcium and vitamin D, getting regular exercise, and |
| the back and ultimately, a curved backbone. | | | | taking medication to reduce bone loss and increase |
| Causes of Osteoporosis | | | | bone thickness. It's important to take calcium and |
| The average rate of bone loss in men, and in women | | | | vitamin D supplements along with any medicines you |
| who have not reached menopause, is actually quite | | | | take for osteoporosis. Even small changes in diet, |
| small. However, after menopause, the bone loss in | | | | exercise, and medicine can help prevent spine and hip |
| women accelerates to an average of one to two | | | | fractures. Adults who adopt healthy habits can slow |
| percent a year. It is after menopause that the level | | | | the progress of osteoporosis. |
| of the female hormone estrogen in a woman’s | | | | Think calcium, eat calcium. Learn to love tofu, tinned |
| body decreases sharply. Estrogen is a hormone that | | | | sardines and salmon and dark green leafy vegetables. |
| is important in protecting the skeleton by helping the | | | | Dairy produce and calcium enhanced foods are good |
| body’s bone forming cells to keep working. So | | | | calcium replenishments for bone. |
| after menopause, this protection can be considered | | | | |