| What is Osteoporosis? | | | | Increased risk can also come from behavioral choices |
| Osteoporosis is the interference of the body's ability | | | | and factors like smoking, alcohol abuse, limited |
| to repair and rebuild the composition of the internal | | | | activity and unbalanced diet low in calcium can also |
| bone structure and is also the deterioration of the | | | | increase risk. |
| bone density minimizing its dense composition. It | | | | Osteoporosis treatment will be advised by your |
| literally means 'bones with holes'. If you can imagine | | | | doctor if you are diagnosed and can include a |
| the internal bone structure being made up of tightly | | | | combination of treatments including a nutritionally |
| knit, strong solid mineral material which becomes | | | | balanced calcium high diet, drugs containing |
| loosely knit and holey as the disease progresses. In | | | | phosphorus, lean meats for protein and Vitamin D. |
| more serious cases this bone disease can result in a | | | | Low impact exercise is vitally important as it can |
| high risk of bone fractures and breaks with only | | | | reduce the symptoms and may even slow down the |
| minimal impact. | | | | process of osteoporosis. |
| Osteoporosis symptoms are commonly first felt as | | | | "Prevention is always better than cure" so they say |
| backache and aches and pains in other major bones | | | | and it could not be more true for disease prevention. |
| and joints. It affects one out of three women and | | | | Some osteoporosis preventative measures include;o |
| one out of five men over the age 50 years. | | | | Have a healthy and varied diet with plenty of fresh |
| The symptoms of osteoporosis include pain, aches | | | | fruit, vegetables and whole grainso Eat calcium rich |
| and soreness. The pain has been explained by | | | | foods (suggestions below)o Absorb enough Vitamin |
| sufferers as being constant and nagging and can | | | | D (lean meats and daily exposure to sunlight)o Avoid |
| result in sufferers easily becoming irritable and moody | | | | smokingo Limit alcohol consumption (Maximum of 1-2 |
| due to the continuous aching. People may also | | | | glasses 2-3 times a week)o Limit caffeine (Maximum |
| experience tiredness, lethargy, feeling weak and | | | | 3 cups a day of tea or coffee).o Do regular weight |
| shaky trying to complete normal tasks and often | | | | bearing and strength training activities. |
| become scared of tripping or falling down. This can | | | | Good food sources of calcium include: |
| make people diagnosed with this condition | | | | -Dairy foods - low fat varieties are available to |
| apprehensive about exercise however regular low | | | | reduce the risk of weight gain or raised cholesterol |
| impact exercise such as using a treadmill or going for | | | | levels |
| daily walks can improve your overall health and may | | | | -Canned fish with edible bones - for example, |
| slow the progress of the disease. | | | | sardines, tinned salmon, kippers and herring. |
| The causes are many from heredity to lifestyle and | | | | To give you a guide, the minimum recommended |
| diet. Some medications have been linked to cause | | | | daily intake of dietary calcium is:o Infants (under 12 |
| osteoporosis and it can accompany other illnesses | | | | months) - 210-270mg calcium per dayo Children (over |
| such as kidney failure, liver disease, many forms of | | | | four years) - 700-1,000mg calcium per dayo |
| cancer, endocrine and glandular disease and | | | | Adolescents - 1,300mg calcium per dayo Women |
| rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | under 50 and men under 70 - 1,000mg calcium per |
| Each individual's peak bone mass is reached at around | | | | dayo Postmenopausal women and men over 70 - |
| the age of thirty and reduces slowly each year after | | | | 1,300mg calcium per day. |
| that. Women are more like to develop this bone | | | | If you are unable to get the recommended daily |
| disease because after menopause the hormone | | | | allowance of calcium to help prevent osteoporosis as |
| estrogen decreases rapidly. Estrogen protects the | | | | you doctor about calcium supplements. Also ask your |
| bones by assisting the body form bone cells and with | | | | doctor if supplements would be a good choice for |
| sudden depletion of this hormone the bone loss | | | | you. Always check with your health professional or |
| increases to one to two percent every year. | | | | doctor before taking any supplements as they can |
| Caucasian and Asian women are at higher risk than | | | | interfere with prescription medications and in some |
| others as too are tall and slender women and those | | | | cases be very dangerous to your health. |
| who have a strong family history of the disease. | | | | |