Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis means "porous bone" and is characterized by a reduction in bone density accompanied by increasing porosity and brittleness associated with loss of calcium from the bones. Osteoporosis is a painful and crippling disease. You can take steps to prevent it or slow its progress. As you get older, bones become thin and brittle, making them more susceptible to fractures. You may become shorter because the bones in your spine collapse, leaving you with a hump on your back. The causes of osteoporosis may include many years of deficient calcium intake, deficient calcium absorption or both. The hormonal decline of old age can lead to osteoporosis, as can lack of exercise or immobilization, such as that experienced by fracture patients.

Calcium is taken into the body in various foods. Much of this calcium is insoluble and is not absorbed, but some of it passes through the intestines into the blood. Calcium is very important in blood coagulation. Calcium gives firmness and rigidity to bones and teeth. Bones need calcium, phosphorus, and protein, but vitamins A, D, and C must also be present for good bone growth and stability.

Several factors influence the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract. Large quantities of corn, bread, and rice may lead to decreased absorption. The average American diet consists of "junk food" with very little calcium or nutrition in it. You may or may not drink soft drinks, but what about tea and coffee? Many people are on different types of steroids, they get little or no exercise, they smoke and/or they are on hormone therapy. All this and more can affect the utilization of calcium.

 

Risk factors for Osteoporosis:

• Gender-osteoporosis is much more common in women
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Going through, or having gone through, menopause. Menopause can cause a sharp decline in estrogen, which helps keep your bones strong.
• Smoking which reduces the body's absorption of calcium.
• Drinking alcohol reduces the body's absorption of calcium.
• Lack of exercise. Walking, jogging, and other forms of exercise subject bones to stress. Bones respond by laying down more collagen, fibers, and mineral salts in the bone matrix. This, in turn, makes bone stronger.
• Eating fewer than three servings of dairy foods each day.

For proper utilization of the calcium you get from your diet and/or added supplements, you need magnesium, Vitamin D, and zinc (but not in mega amounts). Magnesium is for bone strength and is required to ensure proper calcium utilization. Vitamin D facilitates adequate absorption. Zinc is needed to assist with bone calcification.

 

It is never to early to reduce the risks of osteoporosis. You can't do much about your gender, menopause, or family history, but you can reduce some of the other risks associated with the disease.

 

There are many treatments and/or medications now for osteoporosis. Your doctor will probably order a bone scan first. A bone scan is used to measure bone density and determine your risk of developing a fracture. A bone scan gives a score that is used to compare the density of your bones to that of a young healthy woman. This is referred to as a t-score. The lower the bone density, the lower the t-score,  and the higher the risk factor. Your doctor will tell you what  is available if you have osteoporosis.