|
|
||
|
|
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes bones to become thin and brittle, making them more likely to break. Osteoporosis may result in broken bones (fractures) in the spine and hip. Hip fractures often require hospitalization, and fractures of the bones in the spine (vertebrae) can cause loss of height and severe back pain. Both may lead to permanent disability.
Whether you develop osteoporosis depends on the thickness of your bones early in life, as well as health, diet, and physical activity later in life.
What causes osteoporosis?
During childhood and teen years, new bone is added faster than existing bone is absorbed by the body. After age 30, this process begins to reverse. As a natural part of aging, bone dissolves and is absorbed faster than new bone is made, and bones become thinner. You are more apt to have osteoporosis if you did not reach your ideal bone thickness (bone mineral density) during your childhood and teenage years. Not getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus may contribute to bone thinning.
After age 50, lower levels of estrogen in women and of testosterone in men may speed up bone loss.
If your mother, father, or a sibling has osteoporosis, your risk for the disease may be higher. if (document.getElementById("HWContent")) { window.onload=HWResize; window.onresize=HWResize;}
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a "silent disease" because typically you do not have symptoms in its early stages. As the disease progresses, you may develop symptoms related to weakened bones, including:
- Back pain
- Loss of height and stooped posture
- A curved backbone (dowager's hump)
- Fractures that may occur with a minor injury, especially of the hip, spine, or wrist
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
A diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on your medical history, physical examination, and a test to measure your bone thickness (bone density test). Early diagnosis of osteoporosis is very important in order to begin treatment that might prevent fractures.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women age 65 and older routinely have a bone mineral density test to screen for osteoporosis. If you have a higher risk for fractures, routine screening should begin at age 60.
How is osteoporosis treated?
Get Cs and Ds: Calcium and vitamin D, that is. A recent study of postmenopausal women on osteoporosis treatment shows that 52% had vitamin D insufficiency -- even though they'd been told by their doctors to take calcium and vitamin D.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D every day, but Holick says that might not be enough now.
"To prevent skin cancer, we're avoiding sun exposure, which is a major source of vitamin D," he says. "If you're doing that, you should be making sure to get 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily." Fortified dairy products, egg yolks, fish, and liver contain vitamin D, but you'll probably need a supplement to ensure you get enough.
If you're postmenopausal, you should also be getting 1,200 milligrams of daily calcium, and 1,000 milligrams if you're pre-menopausal.
Exercise: Here's the good news: The best exercise for maintaining your bone mass costs you nothing, other than maybe a good pair of shoes. It's walking, as little as 3-5 miles a week.
"The pounding on the pavement as you walk increases muscle tone and maintains bone density," says Holick. "No other type of exercise does this as well."
If you're looking to increase (not just maintain) bone density, you can't hope to increase your bone density through exercise -- not unless you stress yourself abnormally (think super weightlifter-type workouts) -- but it can help you keep the bone that you have. Jogging, stair climbing, and other types of weight-bearing exercise are also effective. Strength training is the other half of the exercise equation. It maintains and possibly even improves bone mineral density, according to several studies, according to results from the Bone, Estrogen, and Strength (BEST) study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
You don't have to join a pricey gym to get strength-training benefits. A few inexpensive hand weights or a rubber tubing used for resistance exercises are all you need. A simple program with one or two exercises for each muscle group is fine. Ask your doctor for some sample exercises.
Chiropractic treatment: Keeping the joints and the bones in your spine moving is essential for keeping the muscles and the nervous system healthy. Without healthy muscles and nerves your body will not be able to do the exercise neccessary to treat and prevent osteoporosis. Motion is life and your chiropractor is an expert at keeping your body moving properly.
