What is Osteoporosis? It is the loss of bone density, mass, and strength. Although this disease strikes many women, especially after menopause, it also occurs in men.
Osteoporosis is defined as the loss of bone density, mass and strength. It also causes porousness of bone and increased vulnerability to injury through fracture.
Especially susceptible to osteoporosis are postmenopausal women, although both sexes may be affected. In women, bone loss may be greatest in the first three to five years following menopause and may continue steadily afterward. The introduction of estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the risk of fractures by as much as half. This therapy, however, can have side effects of bloating and weight gain.
Early signs of osteoporosis may be backache or increased stiffness although there are usually no symptoms. As the disease progresses, there may be a loss of height, sharp back pains and a deformed spinal column along with decreased overall mobility.
Osteoporosis is believed to be caused by several factors. Among those factors are a deficiency of calcium, vitamin C and various proteins. Dairy foods such as milk and cheese contain calcium but many avoid them for fear of consuming too much fat. This thinking is erroneous since low-fat dairy foods still have a high level of calcium. Many of packaged foods are also fortified with calcium, such as orange juice, and may be used as a source of calcium by people who do not care for dairy foods or those who are lactose intolerant.
Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium and may be obtained from fortified cereals, milk and fatty fish such as salmon. In addition to vitamin D, calcium absorption is also aided by zinc, copper and manganese, which are present in seafood and lean meats. Vitamin D is produced in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight and individuals are encouraged to have light sun exposure each day to obtain enough vitamin D if at risk for osteoporosis.
Diets that are too high in protein can cause increased calcium loss through urine excretion. Salt and caffeine also decrease the absorption of calcium and their use should be limited for those who suffer this disease. The mineral boron has been found to slow calcium loss and can be found in its natural form in fruits, vegetables and beans.
Good sources of calcium are dark green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, etc. These are even richer sources of calcium than milk. Recently, calcium carbonated antacids have entered the over-the-counter drug market. These have good absorption rates, are convenient and an excellent method of obtaining calcium for those who do not get enough calcium through diet.
If taking calcium supplements, a physician should be consulted before adding other medications since too much calcium may cause headache, constipation and other side-effects.
Postmenopausal women are often encouraged to take estrogen replacement therapy to keep bones stronger. Some doctors, however, are attempting to restore the benefits of natural estrogen without using drugs. This is accomplished by introducing soy foods into the patients diets. Tofu, tempeh and other soy foods contain substances (isoflavones) which act in a way similar to natural estrogen yet have no side-effects.
If at risk for osteoporosis, a doctor will perform a bone density test and take the proper steps to slow the progress of the disease if present. With advanced cases if osteoporosis, estrogen may not be effective or well-tolerated. In such cases, injections or nasal application of the drug calcitonin is sometimes used. This drug decreases the number of cells that dissolve bone tissue. This is a short-term measure, however, since most patients become resistent to the drug after a few months. In dealing with osteoporosis, a simple regimen of prevention is much easier than measures to control the diseases after it is detected.
Experimental drugs which increase bone density and mass are still being laboratory-tested but have not been approved for use by the general public.
