Osteoporosis Symptoms

Dieting and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone. It can be characterized by more bone tissue being removed than is added. Over time this causes the bones to become thin and fragile.
In this weakened state the slightest injury or wrong movement can cause them to break.

There is no single cause for osteoporosis but several risk factors have been identified. Some of these factors are uncontrollable but there are many that can be changed.
There is no cure for osteoporosis, however there are treatment methods available.
The best treatment is early prevention.

A recurring theme in nutrition is that degenerative diseases are caused, at least in part, by the modern western diet, which contains too much sugar, fat, salt, refined flour, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, and food additives.

Considering that bone is living tissue, just like the rest of the body, it is likely that one eats will determine in part how strong bones will be. Since bone is made up mostly of proteins, minerals, and water, lacking any of these will keep bones from forming properly.
Bones that are not properly formed or are unhealthy are at a greater risk for osteoporosis related fracture.

The best defense against osteoporosis is adequate bone mass density. This way when the naturally occurring removal and dissipation of bone mass occurs there is enough there even if the same amount is not replaced.

The best source of all the nutrients the body needs is in a sensible balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, beans, yogurt, bread and potatoes, plus smaller amounts of very lean meat, low-fat cheese and oily fish. It has been determined that there are three major reasons for modern diets and poor bone health.

The first is consumption. Too many people are ingesting too many of the things that are bad for the body such as sugar, caffeine, salt and alcohol. Next is the way the food is grown and refined.
Much of the food we consume today has much lower quantities of necessary vitamins and minerals of days past.

Lastly, the way food is processed. Current processing methods cause chemical changes in the food that affect the balance of the body and it’s bones.

Research has shown that sugar actually depletes much needed nutrients from the body such as magnesium, folic acid, vitamin B6, zinc, copper, manganese, and other nutrients that play a role in maintaining healthy bones.
Refined grains lack the nutrient-rich germ and bran portions that are important to overall health.
The modern day diet also contains a lot of protein, and while protein has its benefits, high protein foods also contain phosphorous, which in large doses is extremely harmful to bones.

Too much protein may also promote bone loss, which is a major factor in osteoporosis.
Traditional methods of farming used manure and compost to increase the trace mineral content of the soil.
In modern times, however, with the emphasis on producing higher yields, farmers use large amounts of inorganic fertilizers, which are often deficient in important trace minerals and which may disturb soil mineral balance.

Calcium and Osteoporosis Prevention

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease of the skeletal system. It can be described as atrophy of the bone tissue causing the bones to become fragile and susceptible to fracture.

While there is no single cause for osteoporosis, several risk factors have been identified. There is also no cure for Osteoporosis but there are methods of treatment and prevention that have proven to be effective.

In general the most prominent risk factors for osteoporosis such as sex, age and race are uncontrollable and the less controllable factors include disease and medications.
There is however several factors related to lifestyle that can be modified to aid in the reduction of the risk of osteoporosis. Since calcium is vital to overall bone health it plays a significant role in osteoporosis.
Calcium alone cannot prevent or cure osteoporosis, yet it remains an integral part of overall prevention and treatment plans.

To understand how calcium fits in with osteoporosis one must know the role of calcium in the body and how bones work.
Calcium combines with other minerals to form bones and teeth, it is the calcium that makes them hard and strong so they are able to resist decay and breaks.

Getting enough calcium in childhood and adolescence is needed to develop normal healthy bones. Up until about the age of thirty bone mass is built and stored effectively. As we age we all begin to lose bone mass, the bones are being lost faster than they can be replaced which can lead to osteoporosis.
So if a good amount of bone mass has been accumulated then the effects of natural aging and loss of bone mass will not be as devastating.
This is why adequate calcium intake is so important.

Up to ninety nine percent of the total calcium in the body is stored in the bones. If not enough calcium is taken in the body will remove calcium from the bones thus making them weaker. It is the calcium in the bones that make them strong.
Calcium is needed throughout the body to hold cells together, allow nerves to send messages, to stop blood loss from injury and for heart and muscle functions.
The body must receive an adequate amount of calcium intake in order to grow and repair bones, replace that which is lost through urine and feces and to keep the proper level of calcium in the blood.

Studies show that less than half of Americans are taking in the recommended amount of calcium to build and maintain healthy bones. In doing so the risk of osteoporosis can be reduced.

The amount of calcium needed varies with age.
Children aged 4 and up need between 800-1200 mg a day, Adolescents and young adults need about 1200-1500 mg a day, older adults, especially women should get about 1500 mg per day. Supplements are also available for those who cannot tolerate dairy or have trouble absorbing calcium.

Important Information on Osteoporosis Symptoms

Due to the silent and quiet nature of osteoporosis, proper information on osteoporosis is very important to prevent it. The knowledge on osteoporosis symptoms is also required for the better treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease of bones in which the skeleton reduces its bone mass immensely.
In medical terms, the bone mineral density (BMD) of bones is reduced many folds in this medical condition.
Osteoporosis can reduce the entire skeleton to shambles in its severe advanced stage.

Osteoporosis is found to be more prevalent in women. But, at an older age, a large number of men are also affected by osteoporosis. Even kids may fall prey to osteoporosis.
In this medical condition the degeneration of bones start and the process of removal and replacement of bones slow down immensely.

The osteoporosis symptoms are not very clear until it is too late.
Osteoporosis creeps in very slowly and quietly into the body. You may not even know that your bones are becoming thin and weak. The condition will go on deteriorating and you will become aware of this disease only when your bone breaks suddenly due to even a slight physical pressure like bending or even coughing.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

The onset of this disease is hard to detect because there are no clear symptoms. The loss of bones occurs without any warning signs. The thinning and weakening of bones progressively occurs over the years and suddenly give way to fracture.
Such fractures may make you immobile for your entire life, especially when they involve spine and hip injuries. Hence, it is better to prevent than to treat osteoporosis.

Patients in the initial stages of Osteoporosis do not feel any pain and bone deformation symptoms in the body. However, a few hard to detect symptoms, which do appear at a later stage of osteoporosis are outlined below:

• Back pain: Osteoporosis is usually accompanied with back pain. This pain can become severe if proper steps are not taken immediately to cure it. Your vertebra may also collapse by the time you realize that you are suffering from osteoporosis.
• Loss of height: In osteoporosis the loss of height occurs basically due to stooping. Due to the deformation of the spine, a person stoops and looses several inches in height. The height loss may also be caused due to hunched back and protruding abdomen.
• Fractures: Osteoporosis frequently results in fractures. The fracture due to osteoporosis usually occurs in weight supporting bones like spine and hips.
• Thin and brittle bones: The bones become thin and brittle due to the depletion of calcium from the bones and reduction in BMD in osteoporosis. This symptom is usually detected only by the doctor.
• Spine deformation: As the osteoporosis affects spine in most of the cases, spine deformation can be very frequently observed in the osteoporosis patients. This is primarily due to collapsing of the bones of the spine.

If you feel that you are going through any of the above given symptoms, then you must immediately consult your doctor and get a proper treatment if osteoporosis is detected.

Osteoporosis Medications – In Depth Review Of Each Medication

Osteoporosis shows no symptoms of its onset. So, by the time it is diagnosed, the disease has progressed to varied extents in different patients. Hence, an accurate diagnosis dictates which osteoporosis medication is suitable in a condition.

Certain medications have great side affects. All the more, the type of osteoporosis medication prescribed to you also depends on your medical history and the allergies you may have. An in-depth analysis of each osteoporosis medication is required before following the course of a medication.

A Close Look at the Medications for Osteoporosis

Various types of osteoporosis medications are now available in the market. While some help in curbing pain due to osteoporosis others help in reducing the rate of bone loss. While some medications are for menopausal women, some are for the other types of patients like old age people. The various medications for osteoporosis are analyzed in detail below:

• Antiresorptive drugs: These drugs are used to slow down the thinning process of the bones. Some of the drugs that can be categorized as antiresorptive drugs are:
• Bisphosphonates: This is the most common category of drugs prescribed to treat the osteoporosis patients. These drugs are known to inhibit the resorption of bone. The risk of fracture of your bones is also reduced with the usage of bisphosphonates.

  Men, young adults and those affected with steroid induced osteoporosis are said to benefit most from bisphosphonates. These organic compounds function by affecting the calcium metabolism. It can be taken in oral form or through intravenous infusions. Its side affects may include stomach upset when taken in oral form. It can also result in nausea and inflammation of esophagus. The most commonly prescribed bisphosphonates are alendronate, risedronate and ibandronate. It also helps to maintain and increase the density of bones. Sometimes these drugs are also referred as biphosphonates or diphosphonates.

• Estrogen Analogs: These drugs are estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS), which works as estrogen in certain tissues and anti-estrogen in other types of tissues. These days only Raloxifene is the only selective estrogen receptor modulator available.

  Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator. It is taken in oral form and is prescribed only to women. It is not approved for the use among men. Hot flashes may be experienced as a side affect of this drug. Those with a history of blood clots should not use them to treat osteoporosis. Raloxifene exhibits the benefits of the estrogen. It is recommended for both, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It is thought to be a useful drug for the post menopausal women.

• Calcitonin: Calcitonin also inhibits the bone resorption. This is effective in case of acute pain due to osteoporosis. It is usually used for the treatment of osteoporosis in menopausal women. This is prescribed mostly only by physicians.

  Calcitonin hormone is naturally produced in your thyroid. It inhibits the osteoclastic activity to a great extent. These are man made hormones and if taken orally, they will be digested like food by our body and will not show any affect. They are available in the form of injections. They may also be sprayed into your nose. They are less potent than bisphosphonates.

• Hormone replacement therapy: Estrogen replacement therapy is very popular as a cure for post menopausal women affected by osteoporosis. This therapy is used to replace estrogen in women after menopause and testosterone in men. It is very effective in preventing bone loss.
• Bone Forming Drugs: Bone forming drugs are used to rebuild the bones in osteoporosis. The bone forming drugs available are:
• Teriparatide: Its functioning is very different from the other medications for osteoporosis. It works to stimulate the growth of new bones. Only one dosage of teriparatide is given in a day. The long term affects of teriparatide are still not clear. Hence, the usage of this osteoporosis medication should be restricted.
• Strontium Ralenate: This is a new category of drug. It is known to help in building new bones and, at the same time, inhibit the breakdown of old bones. Its affects are still under study.
• Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements: Calcium is a very important mineral of your bones. You should maintain proper proportion of calcium in your body. The calcium requirements may vary by age, sex, and the status of menopause in women and should be discussed with the physician. These are usually prescribed to old people to prevent osteoporosis. However, these supplements may be taken by anyone to prevent or cure osteoporosis.