Disease, Illness and Condition Library
prostate problems and hair loss. For women there is menopause and osteoporosis. Yes, there are plenty of men with this condition but 80 percent of all cases are women. For anyone who has a loved one with this disease, it can be devastating. Bones that break with just the slightest fall, loss of posture, and in some extreme cases paralyzed or immobilized limbs. Just like in many other conditions of the body when something fails to be replaced, a condition of some sort will normally occur. So in plain English you are losing bone faster than your body is able to replace it. The longer this goes on the more brittle and porous your bones become. This creates vulnerability where even the slightest fall could have major long term implications. As was mentioned above many more women have osteoporosis than men. The reason is that men have more bone mass than women, and do not begin to lose calcium until after the age of 60. On the other hand women will tend to lose up to 5 percent of their bone mass each year for the first 5 years following menopause, after which bone mass loss levels out. If women enter menopause with low bone mass, or if it becomes low during menopause, bone density could easily reach a very low level, creating great risk for fractures and breaks. In is important to point out that osteoporosis can begin earlier in women and is not always a post menopausal event. If you are female and reading this article, now is your opportunity to stop, because the next set of facts are sobering. Ok, hold on to the side of your chair, I will try to be gentle. Rates of hip fractures in women begin to rise between the ages of 40 and 44; well before menopause. From age 50 through the age of 90, the risk of hip fractures in white women increases 50 times and the risk of spinal fractures increases up to 30 times. Experts estimate that about 40 percent of 50 year old women will be the victim of one or more osteoporosis related fractures of the wrist, hip, or spine during their remaining lifetime. Of the women that fracture their hip, 50 percent will never walk on their own again, and 25 percent will die within a year. YIPS! Oh, you are still reading, I guess I should continue. Bone loss is most commonly seen in the hips, spine, and ribs. Bone loss in the vertebrae causes them to be subject to compression factures that can result in a slight loss of height, or even a hump in their back. Many of us can remember seeing our grandmothers lose their height and posture. Early Warning Signs of Osteoporosis: * Chronic back pain *Chronic leg pain * Bone fractures from low impact falls *Bone loss in the jaw & tooth sockets *Bone pain in the spine affecting cranial nerves There are over 30 million people in the United States with osteoporosis. This number will probably continue to grow unless a miracle medicine is found or diet and lifestyle choices are improved. Risk Factors *Smoking *Alcohol *Low estrogen levels *Lack of exercise *Progesterone deficiency *High protein diets *Calcium deficiency *Magnesium deficiency *Vitamin deficiency *Genetics Estrogen helps to prevent bone loss, and progesterone promotes bone formation. Medical professionals point out that synthetic progesterone’s aren’t as effective as natural progesterone’s when it comes to building bones. Types of Osteoporosis The medical community classifies osteoporosis in three basic category. Type 1 is thought to be caused by hormonal changes, with the focus on estrogen, which causes the loss of minerals from the bones to accelerate. Type 2 is linked to diet; most notably the lack of calcium and vitamin D. Most know about the importance of calcium, but many do not realize that vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium. Type 3 occurs in both men and women of all ages and is caused by drug treatment for other unrelated illnesses or diseases. Diet and Lifestyle Medical professionals believe that the diet and lifestyle choices made on daily basis can have a major impact over time on your body’s ability to maintain healthy bones. While it may not be possible to stop father time there are certain things that can be done to at least slow him down. Exercising helps with bone density. The use of regular weight bearing exercise, such as walking, causes the body to deposit more minerals in the bones, especially the bones of the hips, legs, and spine. On the other hand a sedimentary lifestyle accelerates bone loss. Colas are high in phosphate. Drinking colas and root beer drinks rob calcium from the bones. A diet high in animal protein, salt, and sugar causes the body to excrete excess amounts of calcium. The body then takes the calcium from the bones to maintain normal levels or calcium in the blood. Limit oxalic acid intake. Oxalic acid inhibits calcium absorption and consumption of foods containing oxalic acid should be reduced. Some of your foods high in this substance include spinach, cashews, almonds, and asparagus. Avoid yeast products. Yeast products are high in phosphorous. Phosphorous competes for calcium absorption. Eat foods high in complex carbs and low in fat. If you suffer from hyperinsulinemia skip this tip. Foods that fit into this category would be sea vegetables, turkey, and whole grains. Eat foods high in vitamin D. Some suggestions would be kale, kelp, broccoli, sea vegetables, tofu, flounder, turnip greens, and salmon. Sulfur not only is an effective insect repellent but is a necessary component for healthy bones. Foods that are high in sulfur include onions, garlic, and eggs. Other factors that can contribute to bone loss are late puberty, hyperthyroidism, chronic liver or kidney disease, and the long term use of anticoagulants, anti-seizure medications, and corticosteroids. Natural Supplements for Osteoporosis - Bone & Joint Health
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