| Osteoporosis is a common condition which is usually | | | | #6. Leanness |
| diagnosed when women are post-menopausal. The | | | | #7. Post menopause |
| meaning of osteoporosis is "porous bone". Symptoms | | | | #8. Premature menopause |
| are lower bone density and excessive bone loss. | | | | #9. High salt intake |
| Over 20 million women in the United States are | | | | #10. Inactivity |
| affected by this devastating disease. Many people | | | | Remedies and Treatment: |
| are under the assumption that osteoporosis is a | | | | #1. Hormone Replacement Therapy - (check with |
| disease of the elderly, not necessarily true. We would | | | | your physician) |
| be correct in recognizing it as a disease of the | | | | #2. Eliminate soft drinks |
| majority, not the elderly. | | | | #3. Increase intake of green leafy vegetables |
| Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken | | | | (lettuce, parsley, kale, spinach) |
| down and rebuilt. Around the age of thirty, the battle | | | | #4. Increase intake of Vitamin K (broccoli, cabbage, |
| of bone loss begins. By the year 2040 an enormous | | | | asparagus, green tea) |
| shift of baby boomers will enter the ranks of the | | | | #5. Supplementation of calcium |
| elderly. Currently in the United States 1.5 million | | | | #6. Vitamin D |
| fractures, including 250,000 hip fractures occur each | | | | #7. Magnesium |
| year. Hip fractures can lead to death! | | | | #8. Vitamins B6 and B12 |
| The current cost to the medical industry of caring for | | | | #9. Boron |
| this debilitating disease is $10 billion a year. In the year | | | | #10. Regular exercise |
| 2040 the annual cost is estimated at 50 billion! | | | | Last but not least on the above list is a regular |
| It all comes down to realizing that we are the keeper | | | | exercise program. Exercise helps us reach our |
| of our bones. And this is something we have to | | | | potential bone mass and benefits our bones at each |
| address now for our personal well being and the | | | | and every stage of our life. In clinical studies it's been |
| future of our economy. | | | | proven that weight training will increase spinal bone |
| Women of all ages young or old must commit to | | | | density by 8% or more. Other weight bearing |
| building and maintaining healthy bones to live longer, | | | | exercises that will strengthen our bones are climbing |
| healthier lives and prevent injuries. The major allies of | | | | stairs, jogging or walking programs. |
| this disease are estrogen and calcium. But healthy | | | | If we are prone to osteoporosis however, it is |
| bone tissue requires much more than that. Let's look | | | | advisable to put stress on our bones in order to |
| at the risk factors and treatments for osteoporosis. | | | | strengthen them and stimulate bone building. But it is |
| Risk Factors: | | | | inadvisable to put stress of our joints. Therefore, if |
| #1. Low calcium intake | | | | you are considering purchasing a treadmill a smart |
| #2. Family history of osteoporosis | | | | choice would be a treadmill with a "flex deck". This |
| #3. Heavy alcohol use | | | | will protect your joints. |
| #4. Hypertension | | | | Tuning into bonafide bone sense can definitely save |
| #5. Smoking | | | | and lengthen our lives! |