What is osteoporosis?
Dr.Kut | Feb 21, 2010 | Comments 0
The structure of our bones has the capacity to grow and regenerate itself all throughout our growing years approximately up to the age of thirty years, and then the process slows down and in some cases it starts to reverse and deteriorate thus creating diseases like osteoporosis. This disease is very common in women during their menopausal years.
Estrogen is responsible for the protection of the bones as this encourages the growth hormones to produce the right chemicals which allow the bones to grow and to become strong, however, with menopause this hormone decreases and so does the ability of the body to regenerate its bones at the proper speed.
Other causes of osteoporosis include diet and racial status, plus family history of the disease. Tall and thin women tend to have more problems than smaller women. However, some lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol intake, lack of proper exercise and lack of calcium on your diet can also increase the risks of osteoporosis.
Other diseases that can contribute to the development of osteoporosis are kidney problems, liver problems, endocrine or glandular diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. Some side effects of medications like steroids, seizure drugs, hormones taken for balancing the thyroid and blood thinners have caused osteoporosis on people. The reasons for these side effects are not very clear and it does not happen to all those taking the medications, therefore, it is something that is still been studied.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects women more than men and there are definitely many ways of handling the situation once the disease has been diagnosed. However this disease is irreversible and a person suffering from osteoporosis should be very careful about falls of any kind which are very common in old age, as the bones may not be able to handle a fall very well and you will end up with a broken bone very easily.
Prevention of osteoporosis may be the best way to handle the situation and in order to prevent osteoporosis; you need to be aware if there is any history of the disease in your family. If there is a history, then you will have to be extremely careful about your habits. Try and live a very healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly to keep yourself fit. Also, consult your doctor for the possibility of taking extra calcium at some stage in life to avoid this painful and disturbing disease.
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Filed Under: Bones, Joints and Muscles • Featured • Women's health
