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- What is osteoporosis?
- Symptoms of osteoporosis
- Causes of osteoporosis
- Prevention of osteoporosis
- Risk factors for osteoporosis
- Complications of osteoporosis
- When to see a doctor about osteoporosis
- Diagnosis of osteoporosis
- Conventional treatment of osteoporosis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of osteoporosis
- Living with osteoporosis
- Caring for someone with osteoporosis
Osteoporosis may be unpreventable in certain circumstances:
- Age - all people over 65 are generally a little more likely to develop osteoporosis due to a number of factors, namely the lack of ability of the body to absorb calcium, increased breakdown of bone tissue and general wear and tear on the body
- Being female - women are more predisposed to osteoporosis than men, especially menopausal women who have less of the protective eostrogen levels which help to ensure the body uses vitamin D to absorb calcium
- Being immobile - people that are unable to move around cannot exercise their body properly and cannot provide the resistance (weight bearing) exercises their bones need for good health
- Certain health conditions - certain health conditions deplete the amount of calcium in the body and this can further deteriorate the bones and cause bone loss
- Certain medications - certain medications deplete the amount of calcium in the body and this can further deteriorate the bones and cause bone loss. The medications most likely to do this are corticosteroids, which are used for inflammatory conditions such as asthma, eczema and rheumatoid arthritis
- Family history - people who have an close family member with osteoporosis (especially mother, grandmother and aunt) are much more predisposed to developing it osteoporosis
- Genetics - people of certain ethnic backgrounds seem to be more prone to developing osteoporosis as well as do people with a gene through to make the body unable to use vitamin D properly so that calcium is poorly absorbed
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There are ways to prevent osteoporosis from occurring:
- Adequate exercise - physical activity needs to be part of everyone's life and it is highly recommended as a factor in preventing osteoporosis. The best exercises are weight bearing (or resistance) to help prevent osteoporosis or at least slow down the progression of this condition
- Good nutrition - a healthy diet should provide all the nutrients necessary to help prevent against osteoporosis developing. Adequate intake of calcium-rich foods, magnesium-rich foods and vitamin D-rich foods, as well as the other nutrients recommended for healthy bones. A healthy diet, full of natural, unprocessed foods, with little junk will provide much prevention against development of osteoporosis and can help reduce symptoms in those people with this condition by reducing progression and deterioration
- Limit alcohol intake - excessive amounts of alcohol can do damage to the bones, worsen symptoms in people with existing osteoporosis and cause osteoporosis to develop in some people. Always drink in moderation. Drinking alcohol is not recommended beyond 1-2 drinks per day on 3-5 days per week and always have one or two alcohol-free day each week
- Limit cola intake - recent studies show that women and young girls especially who drink too much cola or other soft drinks (around one can every day) could be doing damage to their bones and this could ultimately cause osteoporosis due to the high phosphate levels, which block calcium absorption from foods eaten. Women and young girls are advised to drink water instead of cola or other soft drinks, as they not only damages bones, but also damage teeth from all the sugar they contain
- Stop smoking - cigarette smoking is known to have adverse effects on the bones (as well as many other vital organs in the body), so stopping is the only way to reduce the risk and prevent the development of osteoporosis or worsening of symptoms in people with the condition already
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< 3: causes 5: risk factors > Last reviewed: 17 September 2007 || Last updated: 18 February 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
