Osteoporosis: What You Need to Know as You Age?
Hello Ladies! Hope you all are doing well and
have strong and healthy bones. Well, today we are going to talk about bones and
other things related to it. In our today’s article, we shall talk about what is
Osteoporosis, its symptoms, and what one needs to do as our age.
“Osteoporosis and thinning bones is a major but underappreciated public health problem.” – Miriam Nelson
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, literally meaning “porous bone,” is a disease that causes the inner lining of the bones to be so small that even falling or crashing into a car or furniture can cause fractures. Fractures can occur anywhere in your skeletal system, but fractures of the wrist, hip, and spine are among the most common.Keeping your bones strong is a wise goal at any age. But fractures prevent major fractures in decades after the age of 50, when weak bones lead to fractures in one in two women and one in five in males. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take at home and with the help of your doctor to prevent painful fractures that can reduce your independence and, surprisingly, even increase the risk of death due to medical problems.
Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause, are at greater risk. Medications, a healthy diet, and exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weakened bones.
Now, that we know about what is Osteoporosis, it is time for us to know the things that one should know about Osteoporosis as they age like, symptoms, causes, treatments, diagnosis, and so on.
Symptoms of Osteoporosis:
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But if your bones are weakened by osteoporosis, you may experience a number of symptoms, including:- Back pain, caused by a broken or bent vertebra
- Loss of length over time
- The state of bending
- A bone that breaks down more easily than expected
Causes of Osteoporosis:
Your bones are constantly renewed, new bone is being formed, and old bones are being broken. When you are young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks an old bone, and your bone mass increases. After the 20s the process is slow, and most people reach their maximum bone mass by 30 years. As people get older, bone mass is lost faster than it was created.How likely you are to have osteoporosis depends on how many bones you have acquired in your youth. The maximum bone mass is partially achieved and varies by group. If you are too high, your bone grows "in the bank" and you are less likely to have osteoporosis as you grow older.
Certain medical conditions can threaten bone strength directly or indirectly with medication and other treatments. These include thyroid or parathyroid gland, chronic lung disease, cancer, endometriosis, vitamin D deficiency, and medications such as prednisone.
Risk factors
Many factors can increase the risk of osteoporosis - including your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical and medical conditions.Irreversible risks
Other risk factors for osteoporosis are beyond your control, including:- Your gender - Women are more likely to have osteoporosis than men.
- Age - As you grow older, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
- Race - You are at greater risk of osteoporosis if you are white or of Asian descent.
- Family history - Having a parent with a sibling who has arthritis puts you at greater risk, especially if your mom or dad has a broken hip.
- Body frame size - Men and women with smaller body frames are more likely to be at risk because they may have less bone mass to produce as they grow older.
- Inactivity
- Smoking
- Alcohol abuse
An eating disorder that reduces your body weight.
Low levels of estrogen (female) or testosterone (male)
Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too many or too few hormones in their bodies. Examples include:
- Sexual hormones - Reduced sex hormone levels often make bones weaker. Decreased estrogen levels in women during menopause is one of the most dangerous factors in developing osteoporosis. Prostate cancer treatment that lowers testosterone levels in men and breast cancer treatment that lowers estrogen levels in women may accelerate bone loss.
- Thyroid problems -Too much thyroid hormone can cause bone loss. This can happen if your thyroid is overworked or if you are taking too many thyroid hormones to treat an underactive thyroid gland.
- Other glands - Osteoporosis is also associated with parathyroid paralysis and adrenal glands.
Good nutrition and regular exercise are essential to keeping your bones healthy for the rest of your life.
Calcium
Good sources of calcium include:
- Low-fat dairy products
- Vegetables with green leaves
- Canned salmon or sardines with bones
- Soy products, such as tofu
- Calcium-enriched grains and orange juice
The Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that the total amount of calcium, derived from ingredients and foods combined, should not be more than 2,000 milligrams per day for people over 50.
Vitamin D
Dietary sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, trout and salmon. Many types of milk and grains are fortified with vitamin D.
Most people need at least 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day. That recommendation rises to 800 IU a day after the age of 70.
People who do not have other sources of vitamin D and especially those who are more exposed to the sun may need a supplement. Most vitamin D products contain between 600 and 800 IU of vitamin D. Up to 4,000 IU of vitamin D per day is safe for most people.
Exercise
Combine strength and weight training exercises with moderate exercise. Strength training helps to strengthen the muscles and bones in your arms and upper back. Weightlifting exercises - such as walking, jogging, jogging, climbing stairs, skipping rope, skiing and impact sports - mainly affect the bones of your legs, hips and lower back. Moderate exercise such as tai chi can reduce the risk of falls especially as you grow older.
Thus, the above mentioned are the things related to Osteoporosis that one should know while they age.