20 October is Word Osteoporosis Day
World Osteoporosis Day is an international occurrence with the objective to raise awareness regarding prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Osteoporosis Day is organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and many other patient societies worldwide.
Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease caused by various factors. Some of the causes can be prevented or changed and others not. However bone mass is mostly genetically determined, after the age of 65, genetics plays a diminishing role in bone loss.
Five essential strategies to reduce your risk of osteoporosis and maintain a healthy skeleton include:
- Regular Exercise
- Diet rich in bone-healthy nutrients
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Identify the risk factors which you can’t change
- Getting tested and treated when required
In the following sections of this post we look at:
- The Symptoms of Osteoporosis
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Complications
- Prevention
Resource: Mayoclinic.org
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Early stages of bone loss bare no symptoms. If you do suffer from weakened bones by osteoporosis you may experience back pain caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra. Loss of height is another indication of osteoporosis that often includes a stooped posture. Another indicator is experiencing easier-than-expected bone breakages.
Causes of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is connected to bone mass, the higher your bone mass the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis.
Bones are constantly regenerated. As new bone is formed, the old bone matter is broken down. On average human bone mass grows from birth to about mid-twenties, as new bone generation exceeds the breaking down of bone.
As we age new generation of bones reduces and the breakdown of bones becomes faster than the regeneration, causing bone loss. This is a standard part of ageing. Total bone mass is genetically inherited and also varies according to ethnicity.
Having healthier bone mass at a younger age is a positive as it takes longer to degenerate.
Osteoporosis Risk factors
Various factors contribute to the increase in your chances of developing osteoporosis where the great majority of them are unchangeable.
Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis. Age plays a role as older people have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis. People of white or Asian descent pose a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
You are at an increased risk of contracting osteoporosis if you have family members that also suffer from osteoporosis. Also, people with smaller skeletal frame size is more prone to develop osteoporosis.
Hormone levels are one of the factors, too much or too little of certain hormones can increase your risk of contracting the disease. These hormones include Sex hormones, Thyroid hormones and other overactive hormone glands.
Diet plays a role, where people with lower calcium intake, eating disorders and often gastrointestinal medical procedures can contribute to contracting osteoporosis.
Medications that are steroid based like cortisone and interferes are known to interfere with bone regeneration, and long-term use of these medications better the chances of contracting the disease.
Often certain medical conditions are related to the contraction of osteoporosis. These are:
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Kidney or liver disease
- Cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Some lifestyle choices can be connected to osteoporosis. These are Sedentary (sitting down a lot like in an office job), Excessive alcohol consumption and the use of tobacco.
Complications of Osteoporosis
In people with osteoporosis, bone fractures may occur much easier. This means that things like falling down result in much more medical complications, than what would in people that do not suffer from osteoporosis.
Hip and spine fractures are among the more serious complications and may result in disability. In some cases, spine fractures can occur without a fall or impact as the bone mass is weakened by osteoporosis.
Prevention of Osteoporosis
Prevention of osteoporosis is not guaranteed, but some preventative measures include diet and exercise. There you have control over it. By ensuring a sufficient calcium intake, and eating fish, low-fat products and calcium-fortified products you increase your defences.
Exercise has many benefits and some do help increase bone mass and do help to reduce your chances of contracting the disease.
In conclusion
Osteoporosis is one of those diseases that affect many and few have a chance to avoid it. So, it is important to regulate your diet, exercise regularly and monitor and restrict your consumption of medications, alcohol and tobacco.
If you are suffering from osteoporosis and would like to learn more about treatment and care that is available at La Gratitude Click Here.
Further reading is available at:
https://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/
https://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/resources
https://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/patient-stories
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