Well, ladies, we seem to get the fun part of life again, along with the child bearing and hormonal triumphs. As we age, if we are not careful and don’t take care of ourselves as we should, we will definitely pay for it later. Problem is, as women, caretakers, moms and so forth, we seem to put everyone else on the top of our lists and where are we . . . probably at the bottom; or worse yet, not even on the lists.
Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones, also called “brittle bone disease”, increasing your chances for broken bones. Like tissues within our bodies, bones are going through constant changes from old bone to new bone and when our bodies cannot keep up with the process of the new bone transformation, we develop Osteoporosis. Actually, both men and women can get this condition, although women are more susceptible because of the loss of estrogen levels due to menopause.
Some of the symptoms for men (though usually much later in life) which indicate an increased risk for this condition are impotence, lack of libido and low testosterone levels. For women the usual symptoms with an increased risk is early menopause and no period for 6-12 months excluding the pregnancies, etc. Other factors that can increase your chances to contract Osteoporosis are smoking, excessive alcoholism, diet lacking in calcium, a long term sedentary lifestyle and Vitamin D deficiency.
At your doctor’s advice you may want to consider a bone density test to pinpoint if you have healthy bones. Anyone who is at risk or who has a family history of this condition should get the tests. The bone density tests can also be useful to monitor the progression of Osteoporosis and response to treatment.
Prevention is always the best choice in life and there are ways that you can help yourself ward off Osteoporosis early in life, mostly by diet. Adding a sufficient amount of calcium to your daily regimen is vital, along with along with the recommended amount of Vitamin D. The Vitamin D is essential as it helps with a better absorption of the calcium. Checking with ehealthmd.com, you can get further documented information on Osteoporosis, recommended supplements and the proper doses given your age and sex.
Exercise is another important aspect that should be incorporated into your life in order to hinder the onset of Osteoporosis. What exercise does for you, 30 – 40 minutes, several times a week, is to maintain bone condition, help with posture and for overall general fitness.
Hormone replacement therapy can restore the rate of post-menopause bone loss and even replace a small amount of bone already lost, not to mention controlling hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other symptoms which can happen around the time of menopause. Hormone therapy has also been known to lower the risk of coronary heart disease and heart attacks along with the prevention of Osteoporosis. Of course with the pros, there are also cons to estrogen replacement, and these should be discussed with your doctor.
Also speaking with your doctor, discuss the medications that are now available for the prevention of Osteoporosis, such as Fosamax, Actonel, Evista and Miacalcin. With all the new technology these days, along with the preventative medications and therapies, we can lower the risks of Osteoporosis and also the chance of fractures in the hips, spine and wrist. Research more on the subject, the medications available, and speak with your doctor so that you can live as healthy a life as you can.
About Susan Lee Susan Lee holds a certification in dog grooming and pet care, and has worked in the pet industry for more than 25 years. Susan is also the Rockford Pet Care Examiner for Examiner.com and writes articles for various other internet sites. You can reach her at pupelv7@charter.net for any of your pet related concerns.
