Osteoporosis as the name implies means porous bone. It is an old age bone disease characterized by a reduction in bone mass and thickness which makes the bones weak and more prone to fracture. However, there is a misconception that the human bone does not die. The bone is essentially consisting of minerals such as calcium. The bone skeleton is constantly degraded and replaced by new bone. Our bone mass is at the heart of a constant process of demolition and reconstruction. When this balance is broken, the bone becomes porous. This is where the name osteoporosis comes or brittle bone disease.
Because of longer life expectancy, osteoporosis becomes a public health problem. No less than 40% of women aged 50 living in Houston, TX today will experience in their lifetime a fracture related to this bone disease. A 50 year old woman has a risk of dying from hip fracture comparable to that of dying from breast cancer.
Osteoporosis is too often seen as an inevitable consequence of aging; however, certain groups are more at risk than others. The most affected are women (especially after menopause), a family with a history of osteoporotic disease or fracture of the femoral neck (girls having a mother with osteoporosis often have lower bone mineral density to others), Western (Caucasian), more than 50 years (more than 70 years in men), people who have thin and light weight, i.e. having a body mass index less than 19 kg/m 2 the pressures are less important and less stress on the bones and the lack of fat coincides with a low rate of estrogen fighting against demineralization, sedentary (who do not practice enough physical activity) or subjected to prolonged immobilization, eating too much synthetic foods (refined foods, white sugar, pastries, dairy products, etc.), not consuming enough calcium and vitamin C, people who do not receive sufficient sunlight (vitamin D deficiency, essential to the intestinal absorption of calcium), regular consumers of: (tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, Steroids, certain drugs (anti-HIV, for example), exposure to: (cadmium, to lead)
The dramatic consequences of osteoporosis are preventable today: we can largely prevent these accidents, diagnosing and treating of osteoporosis. To start treatment, your doctor should assess your risk: family history, age at menopause, body mass, possibly measuring bone density.
Osteoporosis can be prevented by having adequate food, eating right and having a proper life style all this can be started in some way at a young age. Limit the use of some drug like the hormonal treatment of menopause for women. Ensure adequate intake of calcium or calcium supplements and vitamin D.
In fact, regular physical activity will act directly on bone mineral density. Physical exercise can help in the establishment of proper bone mass in children and adolescents who are growing, also help in slowing the loss of bone mass, maintain muscles and balance, which indirectly limits the risk of falling. It is recommended that a little exercise for an hour at least three times a week and/or to make a walk of half an hour each day.
Ensure that you attend your physical therapy sessions with Absolute Physical Therapy, Houston, TX today and force yourself to walk a little every day.