If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that affects the bones of mostly adult patients. While there is currently no known medical cure for osteoporosis, there are diet and lifestyle choices that you can make to help prevent the condition.

Here are some of the bare facts about osteoporosis. It is actually one of the most commonly-occurring types of arthritis, and occurs when too much calcium is lost from the bones. This excessive loss of calcium directly affects the degree of bone density. Osteoporosis causes the bones to become fragile and brittle, and substantially increases the risk of bone fractures. This degree of calcium loss affects more women than men.

Like many medical conditions that affect the common population, prevention is the key to keeping osteoporosis at bay. If you are like the many adults at risk of developing osteoporosis, consider consuming a diet high in calcium. Most health and dietary professionals recommend that your diet includes 1500 mg of calcium each day. Certain high-calcium foods, including milk, dairy-based foods, salmon, sardines and other fish, are great choices for providing a natural calcium boost.

Your doctor can advise you about supplementing your diet with calcium and vitamin D. Many dieticians and doctors suggest taking an additional vitamin D supplement to aid in the absorption of this extra calcium. Natural sunlight is a fantastic source of Vitamin D, and you can absorb this important element by simply spending more time in the sun.

If over-the-counter supplements are required, you may be able to achieve the required levels of Vitamin D and calcium with just one multivitamin. Speak with your doctor to make sure that you are getting all of the nutrients you need to prevent osteoporosis. He or she will be able to assess your condition and suggest the appropriate level of required supplements.

Doctors often advise that women already diagnosed with osteoporosis may find estrogen treatments to be viable options. This type of therapy can help to increase bone mass and density in the spine and hips, and may actually decrease a woman’s risk of developing osteoporosis. Estrogen replacement therapy has also been shown to reduce the risks of heart attacks and heart failure. Certain side effects, however, must be acknowledged. Certain studies have suggested a possible link between estrogen therapy and breast cancer.

Doctors advise adults who drink or smoke to limit these activities as much as possible. Research has shown that smoking will lower the levels of estrogen, leaving the bones at greater risk for losing mass. Moderate to heavy alcohol use has also been directly linked to an increased loss of bone density.

Another important preventive step is to make sure you’re getting enough regular exercise. Improving muscle strength through weight-bearing exercise can help to build essential bone mass. Walking is another great choice to help prevent osteoporosis, and to boost your overall good health.

Individuals who suffer with osteoporosis have other treatment options to consider. Prescription drug medications are available to help restore bone density and slow the progress of the condition. New drug therapies are also in development. Of course, it’s important to have a professional health assessment and understand all of your treatment options before you choose a method of therapy.

Speak with your doctor if you think you may be at risk of developing osteoporosis, or believe that you have the condition. Learn about the steps that you can take to prevent the onset of osteoporosis, and get more facts about treatment options. The fact is, you can live more comfortably with osteoporosis.

Tags: Health

Popularity: 3% [?]

Share This