Osteoporosis – Causes and Cures
Osteoporosis is the thinning of bone tissues and reduction of bone mineral density over time especially in women who are in their late forties after menopause. During osteoporosis bone micro architecture deteriorates, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered leaving bones prone to fracture even from a slight blow.
Calcium and phosphate are the two essential minerals for normal bone formation. Throughout youth, body uses these minerals to produce bones. But if in early age one doesn’t get enough calcium, or if body does not absorb enough calcium from the diet, bone production and bone tissues may suffer.
In older age, calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones, making bone tissue weaker. This can result in brittle, fragile bones that are more prone to fractures, even without injury.
Usually, the loss occurs gradually over years. Many times, a person will have a fracture before becoming aware that the disease is present. By the time a fracture occurs, the disease is in its advanced stage and damage is severe.
The leading causes of osteoporosis are a drop in estrogen in women at the time of menopause and a drop in testosterone in men. Women over age 50 and men over age 70 have a higher risk for osteoporosis. Some other causes of osteoporosis include:
• Being confined to a bed
• Chronic rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, eating disorders
• Taking corticosteroid medications (prednisone, methylprednisolone) every day for more than 3 months, or taking some antiseizure drugs
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Vitamin D deficiency
If you fear to have osteoporosis or someone in your family had it than you should consult orthopedic doctors as soon as possible. Being specialist in bones and diseases related to them, a good orthopedic doctor or orthopedic surgeon only can give you proper advice.
Osteoporosis risks can be reduced with lifestyle changes and sometimes medication; in people with osteoporosis, treatment may involve both. Lifestyle change includes diet and exercise, and preventing falls. Medication includes calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates and several others. Fall-prevention advice includes exercise to tone deambulatory muscles, proprioception-improvement exercises; equilibrium therapies may be included. Exercise with its anabolic effect, may at the same time stop or reverse osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a component of the frailty syndrome. The frailty syndrome is a collection of symptoms or markers, primarily due to the aging-related loss and dysfunction of skeletal muscle and bone that takes place (mostly) older adults at increased risk of adverse events such as death, disability, and institutionalization.
In Delhi we have more than 200 orthopedic doctors and surgeons located in various areas of Delhi. Take appointment from any of them and find out more about the disease before it hits you. Prevention is better than cure. Eat healthy and right food that gives you plenty amount of calcium and fulfills your daily requirements. Vegetables like spinach, lauki, broccoli, turnips are not only rich in other nutrients but in calcium, phosphorous and vitamin K as well. Eating nuts like almond will also fulfill your daily need of nutrients required for strong bones. One should also spend plenty of time in sunlight too as it helps in the production of Vitamin D in body which is also essential in bone formation.
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