Know Nuances of Osteoporosis and know How to Combat It - By: tania hackner
You have heard of bone fracture, have heard of weakness in bones. But did you know the cause? You might have heard of Osteoporosis, but this mumble-jumble you did care for. You don’t want to get into the medical jargons, but the fact is most of the people are unaware of what osteoporosis is and how it affects them. Here is a brief overview of what does osteoporosis mean and how to combat it.
What is osteoporosis:
http://www.whatyouneedtoknow.co.in/osteoporosis.htmlâ€>Osteoporosis is the loss of bone mass that creates problems like broken bones, particularly in the spine, hip, and wrist. Well, osteoporosis occurs due to imbalance between new bone formation and old bone absorption. If you are lacking calcium and phosphorus in your body then also you get pain in your bones. So, the doctor recommends calcium and phosphorus in your diet. It occurs mostly in women and mostly found in whites or Asian women with a family member with osteoporosis. At the initial stages, it may not let you know the pain or anything, but in later stage it cause pain in the bones, joints, particularly low back pain and neck pain.
Treatment and managing osteoporosis:
In the course of treatment doctors mainly focus on reducing the minerals, calcium and phosphorus loss and give medicine that prevents pain. Doctors also suggest taking balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and strictly say no to tobacco or alcohol intake.
You can deal with osteoporosis by taking calcium and vitamin D in your diet, doing weight bearing exercises, healthy life style with no smoking and alcohols and can visit to doctor to take proper medication.
Prevention of osteoporosis:
Although osteoporosis is regarded as incurable, it can be prevented. Prevention includes patient education and early recognition of the symptoms and signs. Take the help of physiotherapists and doctors if osteoporosis is a concern for you.
Education regarding Osteoporosis is an important matter. Instruct children, adolescents, and their families and say that the roots of adult-onset osteoporosis begin in childhood. To combat this at the initial stage, one has to do a lot of exercises. It is proved that established that regular weight-bearing exercise, such as jumping, in school-age children improves bone mass.
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The Back-breaking Truth About Osteoporosis - By: spatty46
Osteoporosis is a disease that is common in women. Approximately ten million American, eight million women and two million men, are affected by this condition.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition that features loss of the bone’s normal density. It leads to abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disease weakens the bones and increases risks of having fractures. Even a minor fall or injury may cause the bone to get a fracture.
A lot of factors may contribute to having Osteoporosis. As we age, our body starts producing lesser calcium, causing natural degeneration of the bone. Certain medications may contribute to a loss of bone density. And also having a certain bone condition called Osteopenia, which is low bone mass, increases the risk of having Osteoporosis.
How would I know if I have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a silent disease, it has no specific symptom. Its only main consequence is an increased risk of getting bone fractures. Osteoporotic fractures happen in places a normal person would not normally break bones, they are called fragility fractures. These typically occur in the vertebral column, the hip and the wrist.
Some symptoms of fragility fractures in the vertebral column, also called vertebral collapse, are acute back pain and spinal cord compression. The pain is caused by compressed nerves. Multiple vertebral fractures may lead to a stooped posture, loss of height, and chronic pain which causes reduced mobility.
How is Osteoporosis treated?
There are several treatments available for people with Osteoporosis. However, medical health professionals emphasized the importance of a change of lifestyle in order to prevent the disease from developing.
Lifestyle change. This includes integrating exercise into your schedule and quitting cigarette smoking. Exercise does not do anything to increase bone density, it does, however, improve your sense of balance and strengthen muscles to help prevent you from falls. Cigarette smoking, on the other hand, decreases bone mass. For pre-menopausal women, cigarette smoking decreases estrogen level, thereby decreasing bone mass.
Medications. There are now medications available in the market that helps in stopping bone loss, some medications help increase bone strength, and some help increase bone formation.
Nutrition. Eating foods rich in calcium will help supplement the loss calcium in the bones. Vitamin D and protein, although good for muscle strength, have been proven to increase the risk of getting fractures. It is not advisable to eat foods with high protein or Vitamin D content.
How can I prevent getting Osteoporosis?
The best way to fight Osteoporosis is to not get it in the first place. This condition is easily preventable by means of living a healthy lifestyle, exercise and proper diet.
Performing exercise at an early age may help achieve higher peak bone mass and good muscle strength. Having enough exercise helps delay bone degeneration and decreases chances of acquiring Osteoporosis even at the later years of your life. A well-balanced diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D for the bones and muscles will also help decrease the risk of getting Osteoporosis.
Being health-conscious at an early age helps, so don’t wait until you’re old to start taking care of your bones. They are, after all, holding you up and supporting you.
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Osteoporosis Symptoms Tell The Story - By: Jeff Foster
Osteoporosis is a condition in which there is a loss of density in the skeletal system.
One of the earliest symptoms of osteoporosis that you might see are unexplained bone fractures. Oftentimes with fractures such as these it seems that the injury does not match the extent of the fracture.
With osteoporosis, the bones become porous losing calcium, proteins and collagen. As the bones become more porous there is a much higher risk for fracture, particularly fractures related to a minor injury.
In fact, osteoporosis can result in fractures from the most simple of task. Often patients may not even be aware that they are suffering from osteoporosis symptoms until they experience a fracture. At that time medical tests can certainly began to tell the story.
Osteoporosis symptoms may also be quickly identified when a fracture occurs during the course of normal daily activities. A fracture for which there is no obvious explanation.
Now these fractures should certainly be suspicious.
The fractures located in the spine can cause severe back pain that radiates around from big back to the sides.
Often times compression fractures off the back are easily related to osteoporosis symptoms and are often discovered during treatment for back pain.
Those suffering from osteoporosis may also experience a loss of height or even a curvature of the spine which creates the hunched back appearance.
Osteoporosis symptoms may also be identified when a hip fracture occurs as a result of a fall.
Again, fractures occur as a result of a very minor fall. The fall does not match the extent of the fracture. This should be investigated for the possible diagnosis of osteoporosis. Hip fractures are often very difficult to heal because of the location of the fracture as well as the poor bone quality.
Osteoporosis symptoms can be easily identify particularly if you take the time to sit down with your health care provider and explained the whole story.
When your health care provider takes the time to review your medical chart and begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together then the osteoporosis symptoms will begin to make sense.
It is important that you receive an early diagnosis of osteoporosis so that aggressive treatment can be a part of your life to prevent further disability.
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Understanding Osteoporosis - By: Rosalinda Streak
Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that weakens bones, enhancing the danger of sudden and unexpected fractures. Literally, Osteoporosis means ‘porous bones’. The pores develop in bones after an extensive loss of bone mass. The disorder is mainly linked to the aging process, although it can affect people of any age. The disease is more prevalent among women, particularly the menopausal women, but it occurs among men as well.
Osteoporosis is of two types:
Primary osteoporosis: This commonly occurs in women of age 50 to 65 years, i.e., menopausal/postmenopausal woman. Men after age 75 may also develop it.
Secondary osteoporosis: This may occur among young, middle-aged people and the older people as well. Some of the common causes of secondary osteoporosis include:
• Medications like corticosteroids
• Anorexia nervosa, a self-inflicted starvation which leads to malnutrition
• Too much of workouts – among women who indulge in too much of exercises, estrogen production may cease, which may lead to osteoporosis.
Causes of Osteoporosis
Bones are made up of bone tissues and minerals. The process of bone formation is an ever-going process, with each of the old bone in our body being replaced by a new one in about hundred days. However, when the bone tissues and minerals are lost more rapidly than they are replenished, osteoporosis occurs. Lack of adequate amount of bone tissues and minerals forms pores in the bones, the characteristic of this disease.
Until twenties, the bones are built faster than they are broken down; consequently, when you are around 30 years, your bone density is maximum. Osteoporosis is actually linked to how much maximum bone density you acquire (by age 30) and how much of bone loss you will undergo in your middle and old age. The greater is your bone mass acquired early in life, the lesser are your chances to get osteoporosis. For the coming 15-20 years after the age of 30 years, the rate of bone loss and that of rebuilding is almost alike, thus, the bone density continues to be similar during these years. However, beyond the age 45-55 years, the breakdown of bones exceeds their building up reducing their densities. Among women, the bone loss is fastest after menopause when the decline in estrogen levels, while among men, the boss accelerates after age 65, when the levels of the hormone testosterone fall.
Thus, among the factors that cause osteoporosis are:
• Deficiency of the hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men)
• Nutritional deficiencies, especially of calcium and vitamin D
• Sedentary lifestyle with a lack of physical activity. Exercise or any kind of physical activity has been found to increase bone mass and hence reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
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Finally Revealed - The Real Cause Behind Osteoporosis and How to Overcome It - By: Matt Traverso
People’s bones who suffer from osteoporosis become very thin and weak. “Osteo” origin comes from the Greek word “osteon” which means bone; “porosis” comes from “poros” – hole, passage. According to the Medilexicon Medical Dictionary, osteoporosis is “reduction in the quantity of bone or atrophy of skeletal tissue; an age-related disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and loss of normal skeletal microarchitecture, leading to increased susceptibility to fractures”.
The treatment of osteoporosis is strongly related to the actual cause of the disease, some of them are hereditary while others come from the lifestyle. Luckily, there is a complex natural cure for osteoporosis from which the person who suffers from this disease will build strong bones which eventually will lead to cure osteoporosis.
Which are the causes that cannot be controlled by us?
• Family history – osteoporosis is a hereditary disease, which means that if someone in your family has/had this disease, you are more at risk
• Sex – women suffer more often from osteoporosis
• Ethnicity – Asian and white people are most likely to suffer from this disease in comparison to Hispanic or black people
Which causes can be somewhat controlled by us?
• Estrogen levels – the estrogen protects the bones so a person with low estrogen is more likely to develop osteoporosis. Menopause will further decrease the level of estrogen for a woman and for post-menopausal woman, doctors recommend women to be vigilant about bone health. Women may lose bone at a rate of 4 to 8% per year for several years after their ovaries stop producing estrogen.
• Low body weight – petite and small boned women (under 130 pounds) have less bone mass to begin with so extra attention regarding this issue should be paid
• History of broken bones – the chances of suffering from osteoporosis is increased if you have a history of broken bones
Osteoporosis is also caused by factors which are completely in your control which make this disease somewhat preventable. We will continue this article by presenting a natural osteoporosis treatment from which you will build strong bones.
• Calcium – they will give your bones what they need in order to regenerate so in order to build strong bones consume foods that contain calcium
• Vitamin D – in order to absorb calcium efficiently, you will have to consume vitamin D. Without enough vitamin D in your diet, some of your calcium intake could be going to waste, adversely affecting your bones
• Other minerals and vitamins – are another natural way to reverse osteoporosis, some examples would be: vitamin B6 and B12, vitamin K, magnesium and phosphorous
Which medical conditions can lead to osteoporosis?
• Kidney problems
• Intestinal problems
• Nutrient absorption problems
• Thyroid problems
Which medications lead to the disease?
• Antacids with aluminum
• Some anti-convulsants or anti-seizure medications
• Thyroid hormones
• Corticosteroids
The treatment of osteoporosis is real and efficient son people that unfortunately suffer from this disease should not give up because with hope and a strong will, anything can be accomplished. Medicine along with natural osteoporosis treatment (and sport) will bring you the so hoped results. We wish you all the best fighting this uncomfortable disease.
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How to Manage Your Osteoporosis - By: Gregg Camp
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (www.nof.org) : "Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist."
While any bone can be affected, of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity.
If you look at healthy bones you will see that there are small holes between the bone cells. In osteoporosis those pores are larger making the bones brittle and easy to break. The best way to prevent osteoporosis is to prevent bone loss in the first place.
Children and teenagers form new bone faster than they lose the old bone. This means their bones get denser and denser until they reach what experts call peak bone mass, which happens around 20 years old.
After you reach peak bone mass, the balance between bone loss and bone formation might start to change. In other words, you may slowly start to lose more bone than you form. In midlife, bone loss usually speeds up in both men and women. For most women, bone loss increases after menopause, when estrogen levels drop sharply. In fact, in the five to seven years after menopause, women can lose up to 20 percent or more of their bone density.
The best ways to prevent that massive loss of bone is to make sure you keep your calcium levels up. Taking a multivitamin can be helpful, but for menopausal/post menopausal women a higher dose of calcium may be needed. Calcium is nice on its own, but it is only part of the story. Vitamin D helps your body to absorb calcium.
The NOF recommends 1,200 mcg of calcium and 1,000mcg of vitamin D each day. If you have a severe deficiency of vitamin D you may need to take as much as 100,000 mcg per week.
The third aspect of preventing and treating osteoporosis is exercise. Bones are like muscles-- they strengthen as they are used. Here are some exercises that can be done: some are high impact and others are low impact for those who cannot do the high impact exercises.
High Impact Exercises
• High-impact aerobics
• Hiking
• Jogging/running
• Jumping Rope
• Stair climbing
• Tennis
• Dancing
Low Impact Exercises
Elliptical training machines
• Low impact aerobics
• Stair-step machines
• Walking (treadmill/outside)
The best approach to preventing osteoporosis is really three-pronged: keeping up levels of calcium, vitamin D, and exercise. Some of the calcium can be taken from your diet, so can the vitamin D. Exercise is a necessary evil for every age group, but is especially important for those of us who are over 50. I hope this information has been helpful. Be sure to check out the National Osteoporosis Foundation's website at http://www.nof.org for a lot of great information.
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Osteoporosis: Soft Plums Harden Bone - By: Keith Scott MD
Osteoporosis, or the softening of bones, is a major health problem amongst middle aged and elderly population groups in developed countries. The fundamental cause of this degenerative disease is still somewhat uncertain and the common preventive advice given by health professionals and dieticians is to eat plenty of calcium rich foods such as dairy products.
Although hormonal changes in later life are known to have an influence on bone softening (as is the lack of gravity-resistance exercise such as walking, jogging or weight lifting) these factors alone cannot explain the increasing incidence of this serious disease.
Bone is an active, living tissue that is being formed, remodeled and shaped continuously in response to both physical and physiological influences on the body. Bone matrix consists primarily of calcium, magnesium and phosphate and is the material that makes up both the dense parts of the bone and the bone marrow framework.
Many people still believe that if one eats foods rich in these minerals and sufficient vitamin D then they will avoid developing osteoporosis. Epidemiological data suggest that this is not the case.
When it comes to bone health and disease the integrated processes that control its formation and resorption are just as important as the availability of vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and phosphate.
As mentioned earlier bone is a dynamic tissue the matrix of which is controlled by two main cell types: osteoblasts are bone cells that are responsible for the FORMATION of bone matrix while osteoclasts are modified white blood cells responsible for the RESORPTION of bone tissue.
These two cell types are controlled by a complex set of signaling hormones and proteins that respond according to the ever-changing physiological and pathological demands on bone tissue. If there are too many osteoclasts, or if these cells become overactive, they will resorb more matrix than the osteoblasts can produce. A predominance of osteoclast activity results in the bone becoming less dense - the principal characteristic of the clinical condition known as osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by the de-mineralization of bone matrix and may be associated with several specific diseases (such as hyperparathyroidism) and the long-term use of drugs such as corticosteroids. However the majority of those who develop osteoporosis DO NOT suffer from any of these diseases and generally have adequate intakes of calcium, vitamins and exhibit normal hormone profiles.
PHYTONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY IS A CAUSE OF OSTEOPOROSIS
There is more and more evidence to show that the principal cause of age-related osteoporosis is actually a deficiency of non-vitamin phytonutrients.
Epidemiological studies have shown that rural Chinese peasants who eat very little meat and dairy produce have extremely low incidences of osteoporosis. Moreover, their diets are rich in a wide variety of plant foods that provide high levels of polyphenols and other bioactive plant compounds as well as adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium and phosphate.
Recent research carried out by scientists at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University shows that polyphenols from plums have a strong influence on the signaling mechanisms that control bone formation. Polyphenols are a group of compounds that give plants their rich colours and are therefore particularly prevalent in deeply coloured foods such as plums, berries and certain spices.
Although scientists have previously found that polyphenols help prevent a number of other degenerative diseases this is the first time they have been found to be of benefit in osteoporosis.
The researchers at Oklahoma State University discovered that, even in the presence of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, polyphenols work directly on the signaling mechanisms that control bone metabolism. Their impact on these vital systems results in the inhibition of the bone-softening osteoclasts while enhancing the generation and activity of bone-building osteoblasts.
This fresh research is further confirmation of the importance of plant based phytonutrients to human health. These non-vitamin micronutrients have been shown to help many other conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, macular degeneration, diabetes and other degenerative diseases.
Several pathological processes such as oxidative stress and low-grade systemic inflammation are common to these diseases and accelerate aging. Similarly the development of osteoporosis is aggravated by oxidative stress and inflammation.
Since plant based antioxidants and other bioactive compounds have been shown to help the most prevalent of our degenerative conditions it is gratifying to know that one of the solutions to preventing yet another of these debilitating conditions is simply to eat more fruits (such as plums) and other foods (such as spices) that contain large quantities of bone strengthening polyphenols and related disease-fighting phytonutrients.
REFERENCES:
1. Dried plum polyphenols attenuate the detrimental effects of TNF-alpha on osteoblast function coincident with up-regulation of Runx2, Osterix and IGF-I J Nutr Biochem. 2009 Jan;20(1):35-44. Epub 2008 May 20. Bu SY, Hunt TS, Smith BJ
2. Dried plum polyphenols inhibit osteoclastogenesis by downregulating NFATc1 and inflammatory mediators.Calcif Tissue Int. 2008 Jun;82(6):475-88. Bu SY, Lerner M, Stoecker BJ, Boldrin E, Brackett DJ, Lucas EA, Smith BJ.
3. Antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid inhibits osteoclast differentiation by reducing nuclear factor-kappaB DNA binding and prevents in vivo bone resorption induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Free Radic Biol Med. 2006 May 1;40(9):1483-93. Epub 2005 Dec 9. Kim HJ, Chang EJ, Kim HM, Lee SB, Kim HD, Su Kim G, Kim HH.
4.(Book)The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health by T. Colin Campbell Thomas M. Campbell II Howard Lyman
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The effects of diet and exercise on Osteoporosis - By: Emile J
Imagine walking down the street and simply stepping off a curb and hearing an awful cracking sound and feeling pain shoot immediately from your ankle. This scenario can unfortunately be a common one for someone that suffers the later stages of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease in which the mass and density of your bones break down and become brittle. This condition can be extremely dangerous and is actually listed as the top 12 cause of death for people over 50. While its effects are serious and even life-threatening, osteoporosis can be prevented or even avoided altogether if you change just two small things: your diet and exercise program.
You see, the reason bones become brittle is because as we age, our bones lose the calcium that we built up we were younger. This happens for a variety of reasons but the most common is simply that we don't get enough calcium in our diets as our bodies become less efficient at processing it as we get older. This means that we may have eaten the same exact diet for our entire lives but it is this lack of adjustment that is the culprit. Women, because of their smaller bone mass, are at much higher risk for this disease than men but it does affect men as well. It is important to note the types of foods that can eat will help to provide your body with all the calcium it needs to help fight osteoporosis. Milk is often thought of as the perfect provider of calcium but because of its high protein content, it actually reduces the amount of calcium your body is able to absorb so it doesn't provide a good source in this case. Foods like yogurt, cheese, green leafy vegetables, egg whites, salt water fish, and almonds make great sources from which to get your calcium. In addition, many products such as orange juice are fortified with calcium and there are many quality calcium supplements on the market as well.
In addition to simply adding calcium into your diet, another area in which to pay attention to is the amount of exercise that you get on a regular basis. Believe it or not, your bones are just like your muscles in that the more you exercise, the stronger they get. Your bones truly respond to exercise in a positive way and the more intense the exercise, the better it helps to build bone density. Obviously, if you have experienced years of sedentary lifestyle and your bones are already in a brittle state, you'll want to take your exercise program very slow at first so as not to cause yourself any undue harm. Again, the bigger the person is, the larger their bone mass will be making them less susceptible to this disease. Smaller framed men and women should take caution when beginning any impact bearing exercise training.
So, while osteoporosis can be harmful and even lead to death in the worst case scenarios, simply by modifying your diet and adding a consistent exercise regimen you can greatly reduce your chances of ever being affected by this terrible malady.
………………………………………………… How To Prevent Osteoporosis - By: AnnA Rushton
According to government figures hip fractures cause more than 1150 premature deaths each month in the UK. By the age of 75 around half the population have osteoporosis, because as we get older our bones become more fragile and likely to break or fracture. Your risk is dependent on many factors including family history, race, gender, certain medical conditions and drugs, and your age. You can't do anything about changing most of those, but you can do something to help prevent osteoporosis.
The first question is diet, and it increases your osteoporosis risk if you crash diet or have a very low body weight as you body takes the calcium it needs from your bones if you are not providing it in your diet. Some foods are very calcium-rich and so are beneficial in helping bones stay strong. These are: Low-fat or non-fat dairy products, tinned sardines and tinned salmon, dark green vegetables, tofu, almonds, figs, sesame seeds and calcium-fortified fruit juices and soy milk. If you can't stomach any of those, then get a good calcium/magnesium supplement - not just calcium alone as you need the magnesium for maximum calcium absorption. .
Magnesium deficiency can be quite common in osteoporosis and although many fruit and vegetables have some magnesium in them, the best sources are whole grains, wheat bran, leafy green vegetables, nuts (almonds are a very rich source of magnesium and calcium), bananas and apricots. You also need trace minerals: Boron from apples, almonds, pears and green, leafy vegetables and manganese from ginger, buckwheat and oats.
Collagen is a vital factor in having healthy ligaments, tendons and bones and for so are zinc, copper, beta carotene and vitamin C so if you are taking a multivitamin make sure those are all included.
Exercise is also important, and it's never too late to start. The key factor is that it must be weight bearing such as walking, dancing, playing tennis. Tai Chi and Yoga are also very beneficial, but swimming although an excellent cardiovascular workout is not weight bearing and so won't help prevent osteoporosis.
I am a great believer in using natural hormones to help with osteoporosis and this is work that was pioneered in the USA by the late Dr John Lee. He prescribed natural progesterone cream to his patients and kept a faithful record of their bones scans over the course of treatment. He saw a substantial improvement in bone density and soon became an outspoken proponent of its use, not something that endeared him to the medical profession!
I myself set up the Natural Progesterone Information Service in the 1990's as I believed very firmly in his work, and helped pass on his great results to many women, and some enlightened doctors.
Many women take HRT in the belief that it will help or prevent osteoporosis, and for a short time it will delay bone loss. Over time, however, that ability reduces and what is really needed is the hormone that actually builds bone. That is progesterone and unless that is introduced into any treatment regime then can be no improvement in bone density, which is the only real test of whether osteoporosis is being reversed or halted.
If you believe you are at risk of osteoporosis because of any of the risk factors I have mentioned, then speak to your GP about having a scan. Unfortunately osteoporosis has no outward signs to catch it in the early stages - it cannot be diagnosed from looking at you, or talking to you. The 'symptom' most easily seen is when a bone breaks under slight pressure or there are a number of breaks in a short period of time.
Prevention makes good sense, so have plenty of exercise, eat calcium rich foods and investigate the role of natural hormones in building bone if you want to minimize your risk for osteoporosis. .
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Osteoporosis- Definition, Risk Factors and Prevention - By: Barney Garcia
Osteoporosis is a bone disease which causes a deterioration of bone density and low bone mass. This is dangerous because is causes the bones to become fragile (especially the hips, spine and wrists) and there is increased risk of broken bones and slow recovery periods. Osteoporosis can affect any bone, but special attention is placed on the hips and spine, because the breaking of these bones can result in long term injury including difficulty walking, hospitalization, deformity, loss of height, severe pain and even death. You should ask your doctor to check you bone density levels yearly, since this disease often has no symptoms at all. When a person finally does experience any symptoms, they are usually so far into the disease that what they are feeling is back pain because of a fractured vertebra.
Women are more likely to contract this disease than men, often due to menopause, in which bone loss increases. One in four women are affected with this disease, while only one in eight men are. Certain people are at a high risk factor for developing this disease however, and you should be cautious if you have any of the following risk factors. Having a personal history of low bone mass, being female, being thin (male or female) having abnormal menstrual periods for women, currently having or have had anorexia nervosa in the past, eating a diet low vitamin D and calcium currently and throughout your life, having an inactive life style, having low testosterone levels in men, being a smoker, being a heavy drinker and being Caucasian or Asian. However, keep in mind that people with these risk factors are not the only people who can get this disease, and all people are at risk and should be checked for the disease regularly.
There are certain things you can do to prevent your risk of developing osteoporosis including consuming a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium, having an active lifestyle and doing weight baring exercises, quitting smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation and taking regular bone density tests. Doctors and health professionals both agree that this is a very preventable disease as long as you take proper care of your health. Even if you start taking these precautions late in life, they will still lower your chance of developing the disease.
For more information, resources, and definitions on diseases please visit http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/index.html
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Bone Breaking Disease – Osteoporosis - By: Sharon Hopkins
It is normal for the bones to erode as we age. But for some people, the bones become so fragile that they break down under the body’s own weight. This causes hip, spine and forearm fractures. This disease is known as osteoporosis. This disease is more common amongst women then men. This is due to the fact that the women have lighter bones and after menopause, they experience rapid bone loss due to decrease in estrogen. Also women opt for heavy dieting in order to lose weight, where they skip highly nutritious food items. This results in weaker bones in the body. Men too can suffer from this disease if they smoke, drink or take steroids.
But there is no need to worry. It is possible for you to slow, stop or reverse this bone loss. Though women have used ERT or Estrogen Replacement Therapy to overcome this problem, you can follow the tips below to overcome or prevent this problem.
• Build up your bones: It is highly recommended that you do aerobic exercises for about 20 minutes a day at least three days a week. Exercise has been shown to stimulate bones to lay down new tissues. It is advisable to do the exercise that you can continue doing over long periods of time. Walking is the best form of exercise but you can also choose biking, swimming or aerobics.
• Walk in water: If you have suffered from fracture, walking in water is the best form of exercise. You can do this exercise three times a week for up to 30 minutes a day. The water will support body weight and ease the stress off the bones and joints.
• Use a chair and the floor for exercise: Complement water walking by doing some muscle strengthening exercises like abdominal curls, shoulder blade squeezes and back extensions. You can do these exercises on a chair or on the floor.
• Eat calcium: Doctors recommend that you get about 1000 milligrams of calcium a day, even though you have not yet reached menopause. If you are not getting an ERT treatment, increase your calcium intake by another 200 to 500 milligrams a day. This means that you can drink a quart of skim milk a day or have two cups of low-fat yogurt or four cups of low-fat cottage cheese to get 1000 milligrams. You can take the remaining requirements from supplements.
• Go for maximum absorption: Spread out your calcium supplements throughout the day rather than take all at one go. Food supplements should be taken with a meal. Doctors recommend you to take calcium carbonate which is relatively inexpensive and is easily absorbed when taken in divided dosages at mealtimes.
• Increase your Vitamin D: Get the maximum protection by consuming 400 international units of Vitamin D each day, especially if you do not get enough sunlight. Milk contains about 100 international units of Vitamin D, hence it is recommended that you take four cups a day. But other dairy products like cheese, yogurt etc cannot be taken into account since they are not fortified with Vitamin D. But do not exceed the recommended dosage of 400 international units since this vitamin is highly toxic in excess.
• Eat different types of food products: Bones do not contain calcium alone but contain an amalgam of boron, zinc and copper along with other minerals. You can get these trace elements by eating variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and other unprocessed foods.
• Stop smoking: Smoking has been shown to accelerate bone loss. It accelerates the rate at which the body metabolizes estrogen and thus canceling the benefits of ERT. It has been shown to cause bone loss in men and postmenopausal women too.
• Control your medicines: Some drugs have been shown to hasten bone loss. The most common types of drugs are corticosteroids taken for variety of conditions like rheumatic, allergic and respiratory disorders, L-thyroxine a thyroid medicine and furosemide which is a diuretic used against fluid retention associated with high blood pressure and kidney problems.
• Avoid fizzy drinks: Cola and other carbonated soft drinks contain phosphoric acid, which contains phosphorus which is a mineral, when taken in excess, causes your body to excrete calcium.
• Ease salt intake: Excess intake of salt throws the calcium out of the body. Hence do not include salt more than necessary. Avoid processed and junk foods.
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What Causes Osteoporosis? - By: Gray Rollins
According to the U.S. News & World Report Health Center, “Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Literally meaning ‘porous bone,’ it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength.” Osteoporosis debilitates millions of people every year, but there is good news – prevention is possible!
The skeletal structure of the body provides support for our muscles and protection for our vital organs; our bones are also a storehouse of calcium and other minerals. More than 99 percent of the body’s calcium is stored in our bones and teeth, the other 1 percent travels throughout our body in our blood. Calcium is vital for heart and muscle function.
Our skeletons are made up of a smooth, tough outer layer of dense bone, a spongier mid section and a soft core of marrow where new cells are made to rebuild our bones. Our bones are constantly changing because our bodies depend on a steady supply of calcium to function properly. When we don’t get enough calcium from our regular diet our bodies break down and rebuild bone to meet our needs. This is called “bone remodeling.”
Many things can influence bone remodeling, like injury, illness, medications, exercise, diet, hormonal changes, smoking, heavy drinking and of course the normal aging process. When the body requires more calcium than we are able to consume, or if we aren’t able to store the calcium we consume adequately it is leached from the spongy mid layer of our bones. They gradually lose their density making them weak and porous, and more prone to fractures. This is osteoporosis.
Most of our bone mass is established before the age of 30, and after about age 35, as a part of the normal aging process, our bodies begin to breakdown our bone faster than we are able to rebuild it. The natural decline in hormonal production is another contributing factor. When women reach menopause and their ovaries stop producing estrogen and bone loss accelerates. In men a reduction in the hormone testosterone also encourages bone loss.
There is no cure for osteoporosis, so disease prevention is vital to maintaining bone density. There are three key areas to consider when it comes to preventing osteoporosis: diet, lifestyle choices and medications. http://www.osteoperosishelp.com/howtopreventosteoporosis
To maintain strong healthy bones a diet sufficient in calcium and vitamin D are important from preadolescence and throughout adulthood. Calcium needs become greater in older adults whose bodies can no longer rebuild bone mass. Recent studies suggest that bone fractures can be reduced by 30-50% in individuals with low dietary calcium simply with the addition of a calcium and vitamin D supplement.
A few easy lifestyle changes can also influence our risk of getting osteoporosis. Smoking, low body weight and a lack of exercise are all contributing factors to raising our susceptibility to the disease. Weight-bearing exercises like walking, stair climbing, dancing and weight training help to increase bone density, keep muscles flexible and ensure better physical balance in people of all ages. Exercise also helps to regulate body weight to a healthy level. There is a direct link between tobacco use and lower bone density so smoking cessation is also recommended.
The use of medications can and does play an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D supplements as mentioned previously are often paired with bisphosphonates like Alendronate and Risedronate, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like Raloxifene, and hormonal replacements like Estrogen and Testosterone. All medications have some side effects and these are best discussed with your doctor.
Though there is no known cure for osteoporosis there is hope and help in preventing this common and often debilitating disease of the elderly. By starting now and working to prevent bone density loss you’ll have a stronger, healthier future.
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Causes of Osteoporosis, Symptoms of Osteoporosis and Treatment - By: Peter Hutch
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones characterized by a decrease in bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine and wrist.
The word "osteoporosis" literally means "porous bones." Osteoporosis (pronounced OSS-tee-o-puh-RO-sis) occurs when bones begin to lose some of their essential elements. The most important of these elements is calcium. Over time, bone mass decreases. As a result, bones lose their strength, become fragile, and break easily. In extreme cases, even a sneeze or a sudden movement may be enough to break a bone.
Osteoporosis affects millions of older adults, usually striking after 60. Although it is most commonly found in women, it is not unheard of in men. Osteoporosis can be very far along before it became noticeable. Sometimes the first sign is a broken bone in the hip, spine, or wrist after a bump or fall. As the disease gets worse, other signs may appear such as pain in the back and ultimately, a curved backbone.
Causes of Osteoporosis
The average rate of bone loss in men, and in women who have not reached menopause, is actually quite small. However, after menopause, the bone loss in women accelerates to an average of one to two percent a year. It is after menopause that the level of the female hormone estrogen in a woman’s body decreases sharply. Estrogen is a hormone that is important in protecting the skeleton by helping the body’s bone forming cells to keep working. So after menopause, this protection can be considered lost as the level of estrogen decreases.
Other causes of osteoporosis are heredity and lifestyle. Whites and Asians, tall and thin women and those with a history of osteoporosis are those at the highest risk of getting osteoporosis. The behavioral causes of increasing the risk of osteoporosis are smoking, alcohol abuse, prolonged inactivity and a diet low in calcium.
Symptoms and Treatment
Usually, osteoporosis does not cause any symptoms at first. Osteoporosis is often called the "silent" disease, because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People often don't know they have the disease until a bone breaks, frequently in a minor fall that wouldn't normally cause a fracture. Many people confuse osteoporosis with arthritis
and believe they can wait for symptoms such as swelling and joint pain to occur before seeing a doctor. It should be stressed that the mechanisms
Treatment for osteoporosis includes eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, getting regular exercise, and taking medication to reduce bone loss and increase bone thickness. It's important to take calcium and vitamin D supplements along with any medicines you take for osteoporosis. Even small changes in diet, exercise, and medicine can help prevent spine and hip fractures. Adults who adopt healthy habits can slow the progress of osteoporosis.
Think calcium, eat calcium. Learn to love tofu, tinned sardines and salmon and dark green leafy vegetables. Dairy produce and calcium enhanced foods are good calcium replenishments for bone.
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Osteoporosis and Exercising - By: Dan Brathers
It has been proven that exercise works wonders for reducing the chances of developing spinal problems or broken bones in those who have osteoporosis. With the lack of exercise, there is a greater chance of losing independence and mobility due to the increased risks of breaking your bones.
Exercising will help reduce pain that one may suffer from, improve posturing, and may allow you to perform daily tasks without any problems.
Before beginning an exercise regime, it is always best to consult a physician or your doctor. As I stated before, those who have osteoporosis have a greater chance of developing hazardous injuries that can reduce their health. You many have to have a fitness assessment and bone density test before beginning an exercise program.
There are three main types of exercises that are ideal for those who have osteoporosis. The most surprising of these three that you would expect an osteoporosis sufferer is strength training programs.
Usually, the last thing you would expect for someone with low bone density to do is try their hand at some weights. However, the exercises that are usually done by osteoporosis patients are for strengthening the bones in the back, arms, and spine. These exercises tend to control mineral loss in those areas.
Another form of exercise is weight-bearing aerobic activities. These involve walking, stair climbing, gardening, and other similar activities. These exercises not only slow mineral loss, they also ten to help the circulatory system.
Flexibility exercises are great for keeping full range of the limbs. This is great for improving posture and reducing stiffness. When the joints become stiff, certain muscles (abdominal and chest muscles) are tightened which pulls the body a bit forward. This is why elders in movies or television shows are depicted with a stooped posture.
It is always best to stretch after exercise. They should always be done very gently. It is never a good idea to bounce when you stretch or bend at the waist. This can cause more damage to the spine and bones.
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Osteoporosis and Men - By: Dan Brathers
Did you know that there are over 9.5 million people in the United States that have osteoporosis? It has been a common fact for quite awhile that this disease has affected women more than men. Out of the nearly 10 million, 8 million of the people who suffer from this disease are women, but there are still nearly 2 million men that suffer as well. As a matter of fact, osteoporosis has done more damage to men than women. Men have double the chances of death than women after an injury, such as a hip fracture.
Many physicians have projected an estimate of the rate of osteoporosis found among men. Their results show that they are expecting this rate to increase at approximately 50% over the next 20 years. They also expect hip fractures to triple around the year of 2040.
There are many factors that are the cause of this disease. One common factor is age. It is widely known that most fractures in the hip or wrist usually starts around 60 in men, but in women it happens about 10 years earlier.
There are plenty of other factors that should be considered such as, history of osteoporosis in the family, heavy smoking or drinking, and living a sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, there are also many other contributors such as previous injuries, using medications for seizures, and the lowering of your testosterone level.
It always best to get screened during the ages of 50 and 65 for this disorder. In order to prevent this from happening it is always best to have a healthy amount of vitamin D and calcium. Exercise is another key factor at preventing osteoporosis, particular weight training exercises. Also, always avoid heavy drinking or smoking. These only accelerate the chances of worsening osteoporosis and other health related problems.
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The Silent Disease. - By: Terry OBrien
The Silent Disease is the name that is often given to Osteoporosis, as most people don't know they have osteoporosis until it has progressed often to the point of fracture, usually in the hip, wrist or spine. Even when undiagnosed osteoporosis results in a vertebral fracture, the pain is frequently dismissed as general back pain. This lack of awareness can lead to serious illness, deformity, even death.
Osteoporosis alone does not cause back pain. It can, however, weaken the spine to where it is no longer able to withstand normal stress or minor trauma, resulting in vertebral fracture. It is the ensuing fracture that causes pain.
Osteopenia is a condition where bone mineral density is lower than normal, but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis. While often a precursor to osteoporosis, not everyone with osteopenia will develop osteoporosis. Since a diagnosis of osteopenia puts one at greater risk for osteoporosis, patients are encouraged to seek the advice of their GP's about implementing preventive measures.
Osteoporosis Causes and Risk Factors
Bones are made of complex, constantly changing, living tissue. They are able to grow and heal, and are also susceptible to changes in diet, body chemistry, and exercise levels.
Early in life, more bone is laid down than is removed by the body. People typically achieve peak bone mass by around age 30, after which more bone is lost than is replaced. Too much bone loss leads to osteoporosis.
Both of the two primary types of osteoporosis are far more common in women than men:
Type I osteoporosis (postmenopausal osteoporosis) -generally develops after menopause, when estrogen levels drop precipitously, leading to bone loss - usually in the trabecular (spongy) bone inside the hard cortical bone.
Type II osteoporosis (senile osteoporosis) - typically happens after age 70 and involves a thinning of both the trabecular (spongy) and cortical (hard) bone.
In addition, certain medications and medical conditions can damage bone and lead to what is known as "secondary osteoporosis". Patients being treated for any of the following conditions should discuss the risk of osteoporosis with their physicians:
Endocrine disorders
Marrow disorders
Collagen disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders
Seizure disorders
Eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia)
It is important to distinguish between primary and secondary causes of osteoporosis because treatment is often different. To determine the cause, a thorough medical history, physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic tests need to be conducted (see Diagnosing Osteoporosis).
Key risk factors for developing osteoporosis include:
Advanced = age over age 65.
Gender = Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.
Heredity = Family history of osteoporosis or fracture on the mother's side.
Personal history = any type of fracture after age 45.
Race = Caucasian and Asian women are at greater risk.
Body type= small-boned women weighing less than 127 pounds.
Menstrual history = Normal menopause increases the risk of osteoporosis and early menopause can exacerbate this risk.
Lifestyle = calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency; little or no exercise (especially weight-bearing exercise); alcohol abuse; smoking; too much cola/soda.
Testosterone deficiency (hypgonadism) = in men.
Why women are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis
Estrogen plays an important part in maintaining bone strength. Starting at about age 30 through onset of menopause, women lose a small amount of bone every year as a natural part of the aging process. When women reach menopause and estrogen levels decrease, the rate of bone loss increases for approximately 8 to 10 years before returning to premenopausal rates.
Osteoporosis Symptoms
Osteoporosis can go undetected for years and fracture is typically the first outward sign. Advanced osteoporosis is potentially disabling, often leading to one or more of the following:
fractures of the spine, wrist or hip
spinal deformity (e.g., lost height, hunched back)
chronic or severe pain
limited function and reduced mobility
loss of independence
decreased lung capacity
difficulty sleeping
Osteoporosis is the leading cause of spine fractures, especially in women over age 50, but only about one third of all spine fractures are diagnosed.
Most osteoporotic spine fractures (vertebral compression fractures) start with sudden back pain, usually after routine activity (lifting or bending) that slightly strains or jars the back. After a month or two, this acute pain is usually replaced by an achy pain (see Diagnosing vertebral compression fractures).
Osteoporosis Prevention
Postmenopausal (Type I) osteoporosis can be significantly influenced by preventive measures. Most of these behaviors are up to the individual and should be started as early in life as possible. For those genetically predisposed to osteoporosis, the following practices are even more important:
Exercise regularly weight-bearing exercises (activities that work one's bones and muscles against gravity) are essential to maintaining bone health.
Ensure adequate calcium intake, Calcium plays a key role in keeping bones strong. Vitamin D is also essential, as it helps ensure absorption and retention of calcium in bones. Calcium and vitamin D requirements vary depending on age and gender.
Eat a balanced, healthy diet Certain foods provide excellent sources of calcium, while diets high in protein and/or sodium increase calcium loss.
Quit smoking - Smoking has a detrimental effect on bone density, leading to greater risk of injury and longer recovery times.
Limit alcohol consumption - While the exact way alcohol affects bone isn't entirely understood, excessive alcohol use has been proven to accelerate bone loss.
Limit intake of colas/sodas - recent research indicates that too much cola or soda can increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Undergo bone density testing - every 1-2 years if you are postmenopausal, over age 65, or have other risk factors. Bone mineral density (BMD) tests indicate normal, low or osteoporotic bone density levels, as well as any increased risk of fracture.
For more information, see How to prevent osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Treatment
Once osteoporosis has been diagnosed, patient and physician should work together to develop a treatment plan where the goal is to slow bone loss and prevent fractures. Treatment may include:
Education on diet/nutrition - see Food for Thought: Diet and Nutrition for a Healthy Back.
Exercise (if no fracture) - to help maintain bone density and reduce the risk of falls.
Medication - to slow bone loss and prevent fractures. Osteoporosis medications fall into two categories:
medications that slow or stop bone resorption (loss);
medications that increase bone formation.
Treatment for vertebral fractures, which may include:
rest, though long-term rest accelerates bone loss;
rigid back braces to support the spine;
ice/heat and pain medications;
surgery (kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty), which may be necessary in certain situations where the fracture is causing severe pain and/or deformity, or has failed to respond to three months of non-surgical treatment.
Do be positive because even once osteoporosis has been diagnosed, it is possible to slow bone loss, build bone density and prevent fractures. Continually advancing osteoporosis and related fractures are not an inevitable outcome of being diagnosed with osteoporosis.
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Osteoporosis - Are You At Risk? - By: AnnA Rushton
There is no doubt that osteoporosis is a disabling disease with one third of women and 8 per cent of men having a lifetime risk of developing it. Osteoporosis is a gradual weakening of the bones caused by a reduction in bone density.
Unfortunately it has virtually no outward symptoms until it is well established, hence it's nickname of the 'silent killer'. With osteoporosis your bones become fragile and brittle and so are easily broken. As more severe bone loss occurs, then even minor accidents can result in fractures, most frequently in the spine, wrist, hip and pelvis. If the condition becomes advanced, and is untreated, then the vertebrae of the spine are prone to compression fractures, which affect surrounding nerves and organs. This also results in a loss of height for which the old nickname was 'the dowager's hump' as it was frequently seen in the bent over posture of old ladies. It is also accompanied by chronic pain.
Risk Factors: Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis, and women over 55 are the most susceptible, although younger women can also be at risk depending on certain factors. It has also more recently been seen that more men are being diagnosed with osteoporosis. It is hard to know whether this is because they are now more susceptible because of the increased hormone levels in the water and food chain, or because they have not been diagnosed. As the greatest number of cases are seen in women, many doctors have not thought to link broken bones in men to osteoporosis. A simple scan by ultrasound can diagnose this and if a man is subject to bones breaking more easily then this would be a good check to make.
Knowing your medical history is important as osteoporosis often runs in families, but if this is not the case for you then it is the declining hormone levels as we age that are an important factor in whether or not you develop osteoporosis,. Both oestrogen and progesterone are essential for bone building and production of both these slow down as we get older. Normal bone tissue is broken down by cells called osteoclasts (a process which needs oestrogen) and rebuilt by osteoblasts. (which needs progesterone). As we age, the rate at which the bone is broken down exceeds that at which it is built up and this leads to bone loss.
It can also affect younger women who have had a surgical menopause through having a hysterectomy and also anyone who has undertaken severe dieting or has a history of anorexia or bulimia. There is a severe mineral loss involved in these conditions and during the teens and twenties and this can do permanent damage to the bones.
There are a number of ways to deal with osteoporosis and three of the important ones in the prevention and management of this condition are stress management, diet and exercise. Low levels of exercise can make the condition worse, and there are many good books on nutrition on this subject, but it will certainly be worsened by a diet high in animal protein, too much salt, heavy metal toxicity, cigarettes, numerous pregnancies and prolonged breast feeding.
Being aware of your own risk factors will enable you to take charge of your health and minimise the effect osteoporosis may have on you.
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Stop Osteoporosis: Treatment for Thinning Bones - By: Suzanne Andrews
Osteoporosis is a major health threat for 44 million Americans every year. 1 out of 2 women and 1 out of 8 men will get osteoporosis. If you're a woman 50 or over listen up: ½ of all women in this age bracket don't even know they have low bone mass. Osteoporosis puts people at a higher risk for painful fractures and decreasing your ability to lead a functional life. Osteoporosis isn't picky either as it has lots of bones to choose from.
You have 206 bones in your body. So what do you think all these bones do? They aren't just holding you up. Your bones are living storing materials. Think of your bones like a savings account. Bones have a storage vault: 95% of your body's calcium is stored in your bones. You see, your body absolutely NEEDS calcium to survive. Calcium is even more important for nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and blood clotting. Calcium actually helps your heart contract because your heart is a muscle. So given a choice between making your heart beat or thinning your bones, your body will withdraw from your bone account leaving your savings weak, thin and frail. And that's how you get Osteoporosis. You survive, but may be bound to a wheel chair and/or suffer a debilitating fracture. Osteoporosis is the most common cause of hip fractures, a tragedy that I am called upon to treat regularly. Hip fractures are painful and can result in permanent loss of independence and even death. Preventative action should be taken now. Weight Bearing and resistance exercises play an important role in Osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The earlier you begin to build a deposit in your bone bank, the healthier you will be.
Your bones are very complex living cells. Bones are not hollow: unless you look inside the middle of a bird bone. But if you haven't noticed, we don't fly too well. There is blood formation within your bones. Red cells carry oxygen and white blood cells to defend us against disease.
44 million Americans have low bone mass resulting in debilitating hip fractures and painful wrist fractures. The best exercises to increase bone density are weight bearing and gravity resistant activities. In order to build bone mass you need to overload your muscles with weights. Weights are not only great for changing the architecture of your bones, they also are readily available and keep you more functional with your activities of daily living.
6 Tips for Healthy Bones:
1. Do strength training 3 days a week every other day.
2. Ask your Doctor about a bone density test.
3. Check with your Doctor about medications that slow bone loss.
4. Eat a well balanced diet that includes the recommended daily amount of calcium for your gender and age.
5. Calcium is more readily absorbed with vitamin D. Talk to your Doctor about the correct amount.
6. To decrease falls that could lead to fractures, practice balance exercises."
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Osteoporosis - Dangers, Folklore, and Information - By: Keith Driscoll
Osteoporosis - Problems, Myths, and Information
Unfortunately the symptoms of osteoporosis do not become evident until there has been a noteworthy quantity of bone loss, which is why post menopausal women, and those more than 65, should have a bone density scan.Despite the fact that women are more likely to have osteoporosis, men can also acquire it.Through time, your bone bulk drops creating first a condition known as osteopenia, or reduced bone mass, and then osteoporosis, when your bones become breakable, porous and very prone to fractures.
When bone deficiency occurs too rapidly and far exceeds the rate of additional bone formation and replacement, the bones become increasingly fragile and prone to breakage, leading to Osteoporosis, which is the most universal of all bone diseases. Vitamin D is usually discussed together with calcium as a nutrient that can benefit your bones and teeth stay strong and for elder folks or those with osteoporosis, less likely to break. Walking, dancing, running, walking up stairs, gardening, doing yoga, mountaineering, playing badminton, or weigth lifting will all benefit with treating and preventing osteoporosis.
Patients with rheumatologic disorders like ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile arthritis are at increased risk of osteoporosis
Having a well-balanced and nourishing diet is necessary in making the aging process beneficial. Regular consumption of juicy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and the correct amount of protein may bring down the risks of ailments that are associated with aging. Taking multivitamins and other dietary supplements may help in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Osteoporosis management focuses on increasing both strength and bone density while also preventing additional bone loss.At the present time, osteoporosis treatments offer no cure but that does not mean management should be avoided since early intervention can help to keep the condition from worsening. Estrogen substitution therapy remains a good treatment for prevention of osteoporosis but, at this time, is not recommended unless there are other indications for its use as well. In hypogonadal men testosterone has been shown to give improvement in bone quantity and condition.
Osteoporosis medications include alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, and hormone therapy. Some osteoporosis medications are better suited for specific types of citizens than others, and all have potential side effects. Whether you have to take osteoporosis medications for life depends on the type of medication and your individual circumstances. A current government research paper reports that while various osteoporosis medications put a stop to fractures, none has been proven best.
The good news is that if many of us with diet deficiencies which may have impacted our bone health, can improve our situation with a few lifestyle adjustments. Medical proof supports an upturn in bone density where people make lifestyle changes.
If you fall into one or more of these groups you could be at greater risk of osteoporosis, it is up to you to amend your life. Menopause prior to the age of 45, high alcohol intake, smoking, physical inactivity or bed rest, thin build and family history of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is not something that should ruin your life, but the older you are the more care you need to take with it. The disease itself is not a direct killer, but things like cracked hips in elderly patients can prove to be lethal.
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Osteoporosis - Dangers, Folklore, and Information - By: Keith Driscoll
Osteoporosis - Problems, Myths, and Information
Unfortunately the symptoms of osteoporosis do not become evident until there has been a noteworthy quantity of bone loss, which is why post menopausal women, and those more than 65, should have a bone density scan.Despite the fact that women are more likely to have osteoporosis, men can also acquire it.Through time, your bone bulk drops creating first a condition known as osteopenia, or reduced bone mass, and then osteoporosis, when your bones become breakable, porous and very prone to fractures.
When bone deficiency occurs too rapidly and far exceeds the rate of additional bone formation and replacement, the bones become increasingly fragile and prone to breakage, leading to Osteoporosis, which is the most universal of all bone diseases. Vitamin D is usually discussed together with calcium as a nutrient that can benefit your bones and teeth stay strong and for elder folks or those with osteoporosis, less likely to break. Walking, dancing, running, walking up stairs, gardening, doing yoga, mountaineering, playing badminton, or weigth lifting will all benefit with treating and preventing osteoporosis.
Patients with rheumatologic disorders like ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile arthritis are at increased risk of osteoporosis
Having a well-balanced and nourishing diet is necessary in making the aging process beneficial. Regular consumption of juicy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and the correct amount of protein may bring down the risks of ailments that are associated with aging. Taking multivitamins and other dietary supplements may help in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Osteoporosis management focuses on increasing both strength and bone density while also preventing additional bone loss.At the present time, osteoporosis treatments offer no cure but that does not mean management should be avoided since early intervention can help to keep the condition from worsening. Estrogen substitution therapy remains a good treatment for prevention of osteoporosis but, at this time, is not recommended unless there are other indications for its use as well. In hypogonadal men testosterone has been shown to give improvement in bone quantity and condition.
Osteoporosis medications include alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, and hormone therapy. Some osteoporosis medications are better suited for specific types of citizens than others, and all have potential side effects. Whether you have to take osteoporosis medications for life depends on the type of medication and your individual circumstances. A current government research paper reports that while various osteoporosis medications put a stop to fractures, none has been proven best.
The good news is that if many of us with diet deficiencies which may have impacted our bone health, can improve our situation with a few lifestyle adjustments. Medical proof supports an upturn in bone density where people make lifestyle changes.
If you fall into one or more of these groups you could be at greater risk of osteoporosis, it is up to you to amend your life. Menopause prior to the age of 45, high alcohol intake, smoking, physical inactivity or bed rest, thin build and family history of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is not something that should ruin your life, but the older you are the more care you need to take with it. The disease itself is not a direct killer, but things like cracked hips in elderly patients can prove to be lethal.
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The Truth about Osteoporosis - By: Matt Traverso
Osteoporosis is one of the most dangerous diseases of the bones that tend to an increased risk of bone fracture. For people that are suffering from this terrible disease, the BMD – bone mineral density is significantly reduced, the bone micro architecture is disrupted and the variety and quantity of non-collagenous proteins in bones is altered.
It is estimated that more than 200 million men and women worldwide suffer from osteoporosis. More than that, one out of three females aged over 50 years suffers a fracture because of this disease. Almost one out of five men and women over 50 years who have a hip fracture will die within a year because of its indirect consequences. In 2000, approximately 5.5 million new osteoporotic fractures occurred in women.
Have you ever thought about how you can build strong bones? By doing this you will stay away from this horrible disease that affects so many people across the world. If you are in such an unfortunate situation from which you have many problems with this disease, it is not all lost because treatment of osteoporosis is an option.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
In most cases at first, this disease does not cause any symptoms this is why it is called the “silent” disease. Usually the disease becomes noticed in a very severe way: a fracture of a vertebra, forearm, hip or any other bony site. The fractures can and usually will cause severe back pain and the vertebrae collapse down on themselves and the person actually loses height
Which medications are commonly used for osteoporosis treatment?
• Bisphosphonates
• Alendronate (Fosamax)
• Risedronate (Actonel)
• Ibandronate (Boniva)
• Zoledronic acid (Reclast)
Did you know that there is a natural cure for osteoporosis?
We will offer you a natural way of to fight osteoporosis:
• Vitamin K in small quantities will surely help in the porosity of the bones
• Do not eat meat – replace it with green leafy vegetables
• Sesame seeds every morning
• Dandelion tea is a natural cure for osteoporosis
• One tablespoon of honey everyday is another viable option to cure Osteoporosis
How do doctors diagnose osteoporosis?
By measuring the bone mineral density and the most popular way to do so is dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA / DEXA). More than that, the diagnosis of osteoporosis requires investigations into potentially modifiable underlying causes – this is done with X-rays and blood tests.
Can the medication alone cure osteoporosis?
Not really, here is what you should do, God forbid you would suffer from this disease:
• Good nutrition – practice healthy-eating habits and make sure that you are getting sufficient vitamin D. and calcium. Being underweight or losing a lot of weight unintentionally is associated with poorer bone health and a higher risk of fracture.
• Stop smoking and drinking – as cigarettes will speed up bone loss and alcohol will further harm you
• Sport – weight-bearing physical activity will strengthen bones and improve balance.
All things considered, anyone can fight this disease by having a healthy lifestyle: good nutrition, eliminate vices, take the proper medication and keep your hope at all times. Good luck.
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Back Pain and Osteoporosis - By: Josephsmum
Those who suffer from osteoporosis will know the ongoing risks and dangers they face everyday. Extra caution and care must be taken by the sufferer to prevent the falls, stumbles, trips and knocks that wouldn’t bother an average healthy person, but can often result in fractures or breaks to the bones of a person with osteoporosis.
With osteoporosis, the bones of the body lose their thickness and strength, resulting in them becoming more brittle and easier to break. It is quite often seen as a disease of the pensioner where shrinkage of the spine occurs, and the person quite literally seems to shrink, sometimes very rapidly. The typical ‘dowager’s hump’ is the excessive curvature of the upper part of the spine resulting from the collapse of the spinal column, which is caused by osteoporosis.
But osteoporosis does not only strike the elderly alone, as people of all ages can develop this condition through different factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, or a much reduced activity level through severe illness or injury, heavy drinking and smoking, eating a diet that is low in calcium, overactive thyroid gland, liver disease, or lack of oestrogen due to the menopause.
Women often suffer more from osteoporosis than men, often due to the rapid reduction of oestrogen during the menopause, and the condition affects more women than strokes, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and breast cancer. About 40 - 50% of women aged between 50 to 75 suffer from some osteoporosis.
An injury to the spine can be debilitating and extremely painful, so what can be done to help reinforce and protect your spine, and other vulnerable bones and joints?
One obvious answer to help with this condition would be to increase calcium foods in the diet, or to add a calcium supplement in tablet or powder form. But don’t just narrow your thinking to just calcium containing dairy foods alone, such as milk, eggs, cheese and cream. There are other foods like green leafy vegetables, herbs, vitamins and minerals you can include that also contain sources of calcium, and some that complement your efforts by helping your body to absorb more calcium, to slow down the loss, or even keep a grip on to it for longer.
Try to increase, or introduce the following into your diet:
Fish bones are a great source of natural calcium. Try to choose fresh or tinned fish where you can eat up the bones too.
Magnesium may be beneficial in preventing the progression of osteoporosis. Try taking a supplement, adding brewers yeast, or eating foods rich in magnesium such as soyabeans, sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, etc..
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, so you will be getting extra by eating oily fish such as mackerel, sardines and salmon, which you are eating to get the calcium from the bones as listed above. Vitamin D is not called the sunshine vitamin for nothing, and by far the best way of getting a dose is by taking a long walk in the sunshine. Vitamin D is produced in the skin as a natural reaction to sunlight, and the body gets most of its Vitamin D in this way.
Increasing your intake of boron is beneficial. Boron is a trace mineral, which can be found in plants. Recent research has indicated that post-menopausal women who increase their intake of boron can prevent calcium loss in bones, so consuming an extra serving of organically grow fruit and root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, beetroot, turnips and parsnips can help keep your bones healthy. (Good quality soil is rich in boron, so make sure you buy organic wherever possible).
If you have fluoride in your drinking water, this can help by stimulating new bone growth.
Tea drinkers may already be aware of the health benefits of this popular beverage, but if you like herbal tea too, you may be pleased to know that a cup of comfrey leaf tea can aid in healing. Calcium containing herbal teas include parsley, kelp, dandelion leaf, horsetail, and nettle. Adding or increasing these herbal teas can be very beneficial to osteoporosis sufferers.
Low or no-impact exercise is recommended for sufferers of osteoporosis, such as swimming, walking, and gentle stretching. Weight-bearing exercises such as weight training with light resistance machines or dumbells can also help to keep the muscles and tendons strong that support the spine and joints.
With back problems, keeping your core muscles strong and tight is vitally important if you want to protect your spine from further injury, so taking a regular stretch, pilates or light yoga class or course would be a great way of achieving a strong core, while trying to avoid jarring exercises such as jogging and high-impact aerobics which could result in injury.
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The Effects of Osteoporosis in British Men - By: thesidman
Following on from our earlier posts, today we are going to discuss the topic of osteoporosis in men in the UK; please e-mail us if any of the issues raised in the article affect you directly and you would like to share your experiences.
Overview
As a reminder, osteoporosis is a condition which affects the bones, making them weak and thin and so susceptible to breaking very easily. This can lead to fractures of the bones.
There are no warning signs with osteoporosis, which means it often goes undiagnosed. It is normally picked up if the patient has a break, typically of the hips, spine or wrists.
Osteoporosis affects in 1 in 5 men in the UK, and it generally increases exponentially. In general, men have poorer outcomes from fractures of the hip and spine and other major fractures. Men also have greater mortality associated with major fractures.
Diagnosis
Very few men are diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis; only approximately 5% of men are treated properly after osteoporosis fracture compared to 50% for women.
Causes for Osteoporosis in Men
In around 50% of cases of osteoporosis in men, the causes are unknown. This means that for many men osteoporosis remains under-reported and under-diagnosed.
Risk factors
The major risk factor affecting whether or not a man will contract osteoporosis are hereditary - contributing up to 80% of the risk.
Men with a close family history of osteoporosis will by and large have a lower than expected bone mineral density and therefore have an increased risk of fractures.
Other major causes of osteoporosis in men are low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) and taking corticosteroid pills, for conditions such as asthma.
To ensure good healthy bones, men need both testosterone and estrogen; the testosterone is converted into estrogen which is used to preserve the bones. Hence if there is a testosterone deficiency, this might result in a lack of good healthy bones as not an adequate amount of estrogen is being produced.
Alcohol abuse also accounts for a substantial number of cases of osteoporosis in men. Men who drink extreme amounts of alcohol in their younger years run the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. In addition smoking and inactive sedentary lifestyle are also contributory factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that can affect the beginning of osteoporosis. These other conditions include secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (caused by an over-active thyroid gland) and medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, can additionally result in osteoporosis.
Reducing the Risks
If you can reduce alcohol intake and lead a more active and healthy life, you can significantly reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis.
If you have any of these conditions you ought to discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your doctor. You may also want to discuss your experiences in our forum.
If you would like to contact Dr Mahmud, please use the website; he will be able to give general good practice guidelines but cannot diagnose your condition, for this you should always consult your local GP.
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The Great British Male and Osteoporosis - By: thesidman
Following on from our earlier posts, today we are going to discuss the topic of osteoporosis in men in the UK; please get in touch with us if any of the issues raised in the article affect you directly and you would like to share your experiences.
Overview
As a reminder, osteoporosis is a condition which affects the bones, making them weak and thin and as a result susceptible to breaking very easily. This can lead to fractures of the bones.
There are no warning signs with osteoporosis, which means it often goes undiagnosed. It is normally picked up if the patient has a break, typically of the hips, spine or wrists.
Osteoporosis affects in 1 in 5 men in the UK, and it generally increases exponentially. In general, men have poorer outcomes from fractures of the hip and spine and other major fractures. Men also have greater mortality associated with major fractures.
Diagnosis
Very few men are diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis; only approximately 5% of men are treated properly after osteoporosis fracture compared to 50% for women.
Causes for Osteoporosis in Men
In around 50% of cases of osteoporosis in men, the causes are unknown. This means that for many men osteoporosis remains under-reported and under-diagnosed.
Risk factors
The foremost risk factor affecting whether or not a man will contract osteoporosis are hereditary - contributing up to 80% of the risk.
Men with a close family history of osteoporosis will by and large have a lower than expected bone mineral density and therefore have an increased risk of fractures.
Other major causes of osteoporosis in men are low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) and taking corticosteroid pills, for conditions such as asthma.
To ensure good healthy bones, men need both testosterone and estrogen; the testosterone is converted into estrogen which is used to preserve the bones. Hence if there is a testosterone deficiency, this might result in a lack of good healthy bones since not sufficient estrogen is being produced.
Alcohol abuse also accounts for a considerable number of cases of osteoporosis in men. Men who drink extreme amounts of alcohol in their younger years run the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. In addition smoking and inactive sedentary lifestyle are also contributory factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that can affect the beginning of osteoporosis. These other conditions include secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (caused by an over-active thyroid gland) and medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, can additionally result in osteoporosis.
Reducing the Risks
If you can reduce alcohol intake and lead a more active and healthy life, you can significantly reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis.
If you have any of these conditions you ought to discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your doctor. You may also want to discuss your experiences in our forum.
If you would like to contact Dr Mahmud, please use the website; he will be able to give general good practice guidelines but cannot diagnose your condition, for this you should always consult your local GP.
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How the UK Male Population is Coping with Osteoporosis - By: thesidman
Following on from our earlier posts, today we are going to discuss the topic of osteoporosis in men in the UK; please e-mail us if any of the issues raised in the article affect you directly and you would like to share your experiences.
Overview
As a reminder, osteoporosis is a condition which affects the bones, making them weak and thin and therefore susceptible to breaking very easily. This can lead to fractures of the bones.
There are no warning signs with osteoporosis, which means it often goes undiagnosed. It is normally picked up if the patient has a break, typically of the hips, spine or wrists.
Osteoporosis affects in 1 in 5 men in the UK, and it typically increases exponentially. In general, men have poorer outcomes from fractures of the hip and spine and other major fractures. Men also have greater mortality associated with major fractures.
Diagnosis
Very few men are diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis; only roughly 5% of men are treated properly after osteoporosis fracture compared to 50% for women.
Causes for Osteoporosis in Men
In around 50% of cases of osteoporosis in men, the causes are unknown. This means that for many men osteoporosis remains under-reported and under-diagnosed.
Risk factors
The major risk factor affecting whether or not a man will contract osteoporosis are hereditary - contributing up to 80% of the risk.
Men with a close family history of osteoporosis will by and large have a lower than expected bone mineral density and therefore have an increased risk of fractures.
Other major causes of osteoporosis in men are low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) and taking corticosteroid pills, for conditions such as asthma.
To ensure good healthy bones, men need both testosterone and estrogen; the testosterone is converted into estrogen which is used to preserve the bones. Hence if there is a testosterone deficiency, this may well result in a lack of good healthy bones as not an adequate amount of estrogen is being produced.
Alcohol abuse also accounts for a substantial number of cases of osteoporosis in men. Men who drink extreme amounts of alcohol in their younger years run the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. In addition smoking and inactive sedentary lifestyle are also contributory factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that can affect the start of osteoporosis. These other conditions include secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (caused by an over-active thyroid gland) and medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, can additionally result in osteoporosis.
Reducing the Risks
If you can reduce alcohol intake and lead a more active and healthy life, you can significantly reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis.
If you have any of these conditions you ought to discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your doctor. You may also want to discuss your experiences in our forum.
If you would like to contact Dr Mahmud, please visit the website; he will be able to give general good practice guidelines but cannot diagnose your condition, for this you should always consult your local GP.
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How Men in Great Britain are Coping with Osteoporosis - By: thesidman
Following on from our earlier posts, today we are going to discuss the topic of osteoporosis in men in the UK; please e-mail us if any of the issues raised in the article affect you directly and you would like to share your experiences.
Overview
As a reminder, osteoporosis is a condition which affects the bones, making them weak and thin and therefore susceptible to breaking very easily. This can lead to fractures of the bones.
There are no warning signs with osteoporosis, which means it often goes undiagnosed. It is normally picked up if the patient has a break, typically of the hips, spine or wrists.
Osteoporosis affects in 1 in 5 men in the UK, and it commonly increases exponentially. In general, men have poorer outcomes from fractures of the hip and spine and other major fractures. Men also have greater mortality associated with major fractures.
Diagnosis
Very few men are diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis; only around 5% of men are treated properly after osteoporosis fracture compared to 50% for women.
Causes for Osteoporosis in Men
In around 50% of cases of osteoporosis in men, the causes are unknown. This means that for many men osteoporosis remains under-reported and under-diagnosed.
Risk factors
The major risk factor affecting whether or not a man will contract osteoporosis are hereditary - contributing up to 80% of the risk.
Men with a close family history of osteoporosis will commonly have a lower than expected bone mineral density and therefore have an increased risk of fractures.
Other major causes of osteoporosis in men are low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) and taking corticosteroid pills, for conditions such as asthma.
To ensure good healthy bones, men need both testosterone and estrogen; the testosterone is converted into estrogen which is used to preserve the bones. Hence if there is a testosterone deficiency, this may possibly result in a lack of good healthy bones as not an adequate amount of estrogen is being produced.
Alcohol abuse also accounts for a substantial number of cases of osteoporosis in men. Men who drink extreme amounts of alcohol in their younger years run the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. In addition smoking and inactive sedentary lifestyle are also contributory factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that can affect the commencement of osteoporosis. These other conditions include secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (caused by an over-active thyroid gland) and medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, can additionally result in osteoporosis.
Reducing the Risks
If you can reduce alcohol intake and lead a more active and healthy life, you can significantly reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis.
If you have any of these conditions you ought to discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your doctor. You may also want to discuss your experiences in our forum.
If you would like to contact Dr Mahmud, please use the contact form below; he will be able to give general good practice guidelines but cannot diagnose your condition, for this you should always consult your local GP.
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How British Men Cope with Osteoporosis - By: thesidman
Following on from our earlier posts, today we are going to discuss the topic of osteoporosis in men in the UK; please e-mail us if any of the issues raised in the article affect you directly and you would like to share your experiences.
Overview
As a reminder, osteoporosis is a condition which affects the bones, making them weak and thin and therefore susceptible to breaking very easily. This can lead to fractures of the bones.
There are no warning signs with osteoporosis, which means it often goes undiagnosed. It is normally picked up if the patient has a break, typically of the hips, spine or wrists.
Osteoporosis affects in 1 in 5 men in the UK, and it commonly increases exponentially. In general, men have poorer outcomes from fractures of the hip and spine and other major fractures. Men also have greater mortality associated with major fractures.
Diagnosis
Very few men are diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis; only around 5% of men are treated properly after osteoporosis fracture compared to 50% for women.
Causes for Osteoporosis in Men
In around 50% of cases of osteoporosis in men, the causes are unknown. This means that for many men osteoporosis remains under-reported and under-diagnosed.
Risk factors
The major risk factor affecting whether or not a man will contract osteoporosis are hereditary - contributing up to 80% of the risk.
Men with a close family history of osteoporosis will in general have a lower than expected bone mineral density and therefore have an increased risk of fractures.
Other major causes of osteoporosis in men are low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) and taking corticosteroid pills, for conditions such as asthma.
To ensure good healthy bones, men need both testosterone and estrogen; the testosterone is converted into estrogen which is used to preserve the bones. Hence if there is a testosterone deficiency, this may possibly result in a lack of good healthy bones as not an adequate amount of estrogen is being produced.
Alcohol abuse also accounts for a substantial number of cases of osteoporosis in men. Men who drink extreme amounts of alcohol in their younger years run the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. In addition smoking and inactive sedentary lifestyle are also contributory factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that can affect the commencement of osteoporosis. These other conditions include secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (caused by an over-active thyroid gland) and medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, can additionally result in osteoporosis.
Reducing the Risks
If you can reduce alcohol intake and lead a more active and healthy life, you can significantly reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis.
If you have any of these conditions you ought to discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your doctor. You may also want to discuss your experiences in our forum.
If you would like to contact Dr Mahmud, please use the contact form below; he will be able to give general good practice guidelines but cannot diagnose your condition, for this you should always consult your local GP.
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British Men and Osteoporosis - By: thesidman
Following on from our earlier posts, today we are going to discuss the topic of osteoporosis in men in the UK; please e-mail us if any of the issues raised in the article affect you directly and you would like to share your experiences.
Overview
As a reminder, osteoporosis is a condition which affects the bones, making them weak and thin and so susceptible to breaking very easily. This can lead to fractures of the bones.
There are no warning signs with osteoporosis, which means it often goes undiagnosed. It is normally picked up if the patient has a break, typically of the hips, spine or wrists.
Osteoporosis affects in 1 in 5 men in the UK, and it typically increases exponentially. In general, men have poorer outcomes from fractures of the hip and spine and other major fractures. Men also have greater mortality associated with major fractures.
Diagnosis
Very few men are diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis; only roughly 5% of men are treated properly after osteoporosis fracture compared to 50% for women.
Causes for Osteoporosis in Men
In around 50% of cases of osteoporosis in men, the causes are unknown. This means that for many men osteoporosis remains under-reported and under-diagnosed.
Risk factors
The major risk factor affecting whether or not a man will contract osteoporosis are hereditary - contributing up to 80% of the risk.
Men with a close family history of osteoporosis will commonly have a lower than expected bone mineral density and therefore have an increased risk of fractures.
Other major causes of osteoporosis in men are low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) and taking corticosteroid pills, for conditions such as asthma.
To ensure good healthy bones, men need both testosterone and estrogen; the testosterone is converted into estrogen which is used to preserve the bones. Hence if there is a testosterone deficiency, this may well result in a lack of good healthy bones as not an adequate amount of estrogen is being produced.
Alcohol abuse also accounts for a substantial number of cases of osteoporosis in men. Men who drink extreme amounts of alcohol in their younger years run the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. In addition smoking and inactive sedentary lifestyle are also contributory factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that can affect the start of osteoporosis. These other conditions include secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (caused by an over-active thyroid gland) and medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, can additionally result in osteoporosis.
Reducing the Risks
If you can reduce alcohol intake and lead a more active and healthy life, you can significantly reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis.
If you have any of these conditions you ought to discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your doctor. You may also want to discuss your experiences in our forum.
If you would like to contact Dr Mahmud, please use the contact form below; he will be able to give general good practice guidelines but cannot diagnose your condition, for this you should always consult your local GP.
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Osteoporosis in Men - By: thesidman
Following on from our previous posts, today we are going to discuss the subject In of osteoporosis in men in the UK; please contact us if any of the issues raised in the article affect you directly and you want to share your experiences.
Overview
As a reminder, osteoporosis is a condition which affects the bones, making them weak and thin and thus susceptible to breaking very easily. This can lead to fractures of the bones.
There are no warning signs with osteoporosis, which means it often goes undiagnosed. It is normally picked up when the patient has a fracture, typically of the hips, spine or wrists.
Osteoporosis affects in 1 in 5 men in the UK, and it usually increases exponentially. In general, men have poorer outcomes from fractures of the hip and spine and other major fractures. Men also have greater mortality associated with major fractures.
Diagnosis
Very few men are diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis; only about 5% of men are treated correctly after osteoporosis fracture compared to 50% for women.
Causes for Osteoporosis in Men
In around 50% of cases of osteoporosis in men, the causes are unknown. This means that for many men osteoporosis remains under-reported and under-diagnosed.
Risk factors
The main risk factor affecting whether or not a man will contract osteoporosis are hereditary - contributing up to 80% of the risk.
Men with a close family history of osteoporosis will generally have a lower than expected bone mineral density and thus have an increased risk of fractures.
Other major causes of osteoporosis in men are low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) and taking corticosteroid tablets, for conditions such as asthma.
To ensure good healthy bones, men need both testosterone and estrogen; the testosterone is converted into estrogen which is used to preserve the bones. Hence if there is a testosterone deficiency, this could result in a lack of good healthy bones because not enough estrogen is being produced.
Alcohol abuse also accounts for a significant number of cases of osteoporosis in men. Men who drink excessive amounts of alcohol in their younger years run the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. In addition smoking and inactive sedentary lifestyle are also contributory factors for developing osteoporosis.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that can affect the onset of osteoporosis. These other conditions include secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (caused by an over-active thyroid gland) and medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, can also result in osteoporosis.
Reducing the Risks
If you can reduce alcohol intake and lead a more active and healthy life, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis.
If you have any of these conditions you should discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your doctor. You may also want to discuss your experiences in our forum.
If you would like to contact Dr Mahmud, please use the contact form below; he will be able to give general good practice guidelines but cannot diagnose your condition, for this you should always consult your local GP.
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What is Osteoporosis and Natural Cure for Osteoporosis - By: Dr. Mital John
What is Osteoporosis? it is often referred to as thinning bones, the word Osteoporosis actually translated means "Porous Bones" and it is referring to the deterioration in bone quality and density, leading to fragility and weakness, with a increase in the risk of bone fracture. The most common sites for fracture to occur are the hip, wrist, pelvis, spine and arms.
There are two kinds of bone cells that one should understand. Osteoclasts are the cells that travel through bone tissue, finding bone tissue that needs replacing, removing old bone by dissolving it and leaving small cavities or pores where there once was bone. Osteoblasts are the cells that form new bone cells in the cavities left by the dissolving tissue. These continuous processes of bone desorption and new bone formation is how bones are kept strong in the healthy body. Bone strength is the result of the balance of these two processes. Osteoporosis happens when more bone tissue is being dissolved than is being rebuilt.
What causes it is usually due to the bones losing more calcium than is being deposited, just like drawing more money out of the bank than you are putting in to your account. As you age the deterioration worsens, or increases, the outer shell of your bones weaken and the inner part develops larger holes, the condition is more difficult to remedy, the worse it has become, there are pharmaceutical drugs available that can slow down the deterioration, and sometimes even reverse it a little.
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
• Bone pain and tenderness
• Neck pain, discomfort in the neck other than from injury or trauma
• Persistent pain in the spine or muscles of the lower back
• Abdominal pain
• Tooth loss
• Broken bones
• Fatigue
• Periodontal disease
• Brittle fingernails
Natural treatment for Osteoporosis
• Diet: - An optimal diet for preventing or treating osteoporosis includes eating an adequate number of calories as well as calcium and vitamin D, which are essential in helping to maintain proper bone formation and density.
• Exercise: - Weight-bearing exercises can improve bone mass in premenopausal women and help to maintain bone density for women after menopause. Physical activity reduces the risk of hip fracture in older women as a result of increased muscle strength. Most experts recommend exercising for at least 30 minutes three times per week.
• Black Cohosh: - A recent study indicates this popular herb may help prevent osteoporosis. Most studies recommend an intake of either 20 or 40 mg of black cohosh extract twice a day.
• Stop smoking: - Stopping smoking is strongly recommended if you are at risk for osteoporosis because smoking cigarettes is known to speed bone loss. One study suggested that women who smoke one pack per day throughout adulthood have a 5 to 10 percent reduction in bone density by menopause, resulting in an increased risk of fracture.
• Alcohol Abuse: - Long term alcohol abuse reduces bone formation and interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium.
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Osteoporosis And Its Treatment - By: altruist
Osteoporosis is a common condition which can affect both men and women. Since osteoporosis is a degenerative disease, bone density is lost over time. It is possible to reverse the side effects of osteoporosis, however. Before you try any osteoporosis treatment, it is a good idea to consult your doctor. Osteoporosis is a progressive disease where the bones become more porous and weaker over time. Untreated, osteoporosis will weaken, disable and kill both women and men. Almost half of the women in the United States will fracture a hip, forearm or spine sometime in their lifetime.
Osteoporosis works very gradually against you. You can lose bone density and bone strength as the years go on, and even decades in, leaving your bones much weaker than they were in your youth. If you are going through menopause, women who are losing estrogen can get osteoporosis; men can experience drops in testosterone as they age, which also can result in the condition. If you don't take in enough calcium, you can also get osteoporosis. People can often not know that they even have osteoporosis until their condition is advanced.
Calcium and phosphate are two minerals that are essential for normal bone formation. Calcium is essential for building and maintaining healthy bone. Calcium supplements: Do men need them too. Calcium and phosphorusmust be obtained from the food we eat, while hormones are producedby glands in various locations in the body. Calcium in the diet is important for strong, healthy bones. Calcium carbonate and calcium citrate are two common forms.
Another important form of treatment for osteoporosis is hormone replacement therapy, where drugs are used to restore estrogen and progesterone levels that are lost due to menopause. However, it should be remembered that long-term use of HRT is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Calcitonin is another hormone that breaks down a bone; its supplements are injected for treatment of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis medications like Calcitonin is another drug used for osteoporosis. It is a man-made hormone that is found naturally in people, other mammals, and some types of fish and birds. Like all hormones, Calcitonin is a chemical messenger; it helps regulate normal blood calcium levels and reduces progressive bone loss. This is available only by prescription. It has been shown to prevent fractures of the spine but not of the hip and wrist.
For natural osteoporosis treatment, first change your diet. Make it high in fresh fruit and veggies, especially green leafy veggies. Eat as much of it raw as you can. Eliminate or cut down on animal protein (meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy). Green leafy veggies are high in protein as are nuts and seeds.
The sun is clearly the main source of vitamin D but there are other food sources including dairy products, eggs and fish. Vitamin D plays a key role, this vitamin helps the body to absorb calcium from food to build strong bones. It is estimated that vitamin D can boost calcium absorption by 30% to 80%. Most individuals do not meet their daily vitamin D requirements because of people's lifestyle and climate.In this case, it's a good idea to take a supplement.
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Osteoporosis Symptoms and Home Remedies for Osteoporosis - By: dr. sarkozy mikal
Osteoporosis occurs at what time the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both.
Calcium and phosphate are two raw materials that are necessary for normal bone formation. Throughout youth, your bodies use these minerals to make bones.
If you do not get enough calcium, or if your body does not absorb sufficient calcium from the diet, bone construction and bone tissues may suffer.
For more information please visit herbalcureindia.com
As you age, calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones, which makes the bone tissue weaker. This can result in brittle, fragile bones that are more prone to fractures, even devoid of injury.
Usually, the loss occurs unhurriedly over years. Many times, a person will have a fracture before becoming aware that the sickness is present. By the time a fracture occurs, the disease is in its higher stages and damage is severe.
Osteoporosis is a circumstance characterized by a decrease in the density of bone, decreasing its strength and resulting in fragile bones.
Osteoporosis literally leads to unusually porous bone that is compressible, like a sponge. This disorder of the frame weakens the bone and results in frequent fractures (breaks) in the bones.
Osteoporosis is a illness characterized by low bone mass and loss of bone tissue that may lead to weak and fragile bones. If you have osteoporosis, you have an augmented risk for fractured bones (broken bones), particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Osteoporosis is often careful to be a condition that frail elderly women develop. However, the damage from osteoporosis begins much earlier in life.
Because peak bone density is reached at approximately 25 years of age, it is vital to build strong bones by that age, so that the bones will remain strong later in life. Adequate calcium intake is an essential part of building strong bones.
Osteoporosis Treatment
Natural treatment for osteoporosis is sought by millions of older adults who don't want to deal with the side effects of the drugs that are repeatedly used as a standard chemical regimen against the onslaught of this bone disease.
http://www.herbalcureindia.com/home-remedies/osteoporosis.html
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone density is decreased, making the sufferer more likely to have fractured bones from seemingly routine activities.
It is estimated that almost thirty million women in America are at risk because of already having this disease in some form or another. It is a very slowly succeeding disease and many people do not know that they have it until after a bone break occurs.
Home Remedies for Osteoporosis
1. Exercise to build strong bones: Exercise for atleast thirty minutes comprising of weight-bearing exercise such as walking or jogging, three times a week. This regime has been proven to increase bone mineral density, and reduce the risk of falls by strengthening the major muscle groups in the legs and back.
2. Water Walking: is another optional exercise to combat osteoporosis. Walking in chest-deep water for about 30 minutes at least three times a week is a suggested remedy as water helps support the body weight and take stress off bones and joints.
3. Dandelion Tea: Drink dandelion leaf tea to help build bone density
4. Higher intake of Soy products: As Hormonal imbalance can contribute to bone loss, eating more soy products or taking a supplement that contains soy isoflavones, the active ingredient in soybeans helps balance estrogen levels. One be supposed to get at least 40 mg of soy isoflavones in a daily diet or by taking isoflavone supplements.
5. Chaste Berry: Chaste berry contains vitexicarpin and vitricin, which help to keep hormone levels in balance. It is prudent to take atleast 250 mg a day of a standardized extract of this herb every day for two to three months.
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Osteoporosis: Risk Factors, Prevention And Treatment - By: James S Pendergraft
Out of the wide variety of bone related diseases prevalent in the recent time, osteoporosis is one of the most common ones. The most central reason for the occurrence of this disease is the decrease in the overall bone density in the bones. The worst part about this disease is that the lessening of the bone density which subsequently leads to it is a very gradual process and takes many years to set in without any evident signs of this lessening .Thus osteoporosis is often deemed to be a silent killer and is the reason why people shudder when they hear about the disease. This disease can only be confirmed in patients when the symptoms are reaching a high level. These may include loss in the height of the body, increase in the chipping and the number of bone fractures, severe and prolonged joint pains and even hunchback.
There are certain risk factors associated with osteoporosis, which can aggravate or increase the chances of this disease. Keeping race as a parameter, there is a greater danger to whites as well as people from the Asian origin to suffer from this disease than darker races such as blacks and browns. Also, there is a greater sighting of this disease in older people than youngsters, teenagers and infants. It has been seen that osteoporosis has a close connection to estrogen as well as menopause once the age of thirty five and above sets in ladies. Osteoporosis is also a disease which is known to affect people with similar bone structure most often. Thus if anyone in your family has a history of this disease, it is important that you should be careful and take necessary precautions against it. Apart from these, a wide variety of lifestyle related reasons can also be contributed to becoming a probable cause of osteoporosis. These include over consumption of alcohol and red meat, lack of physical activities and sports, obesity, low calcium levels in blood and bones, excessive consumption of caffeine and smoking and many more are yet to be realized. Many people also tend to connect incorrect postures while sitting ,standing, sleeping and driving.
As far as the detection of osteoporosis is concerned, there are a wide variety of tests conducted today by doctors and medical experts to detect and confirm the disease. Two of the most commonly used methods include Dual-energy X-ray, Absorptiometry as well as Ultrasound Densitometry.
Any treatment or therapy to cure osteoporosis is based on three basic objectives - controlling the pain in patients, reduce the chances of subsequent fractures and bone damage and finally and most importantly to increase the overall bone density. Since osteoporosis can be accounted to a lot of different causes, the therapy to cure it has to be of a multi-dimensional nature. This is the reason why apart from bone specialists, the expert committee undertaking the therapy also involves experts from medical departments such as obstetric and gynecology.
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Treat Osteoporosis - By: Aldrich alfred
Most people believe Osteoporosis is a disease that is dependent solely on estrogen and calcium. Studies are now showing Osteoporosis can be slowed, (not stopped), thru the use of calcium supplements and hormone therapy in menopausal women.
A simple mineral called strontium has been shown in repeated studies to be 170% as effective as Fosamax! And, you won't have the side effects that the "wonder drug" Fosamax causes. Fosamax is far too expensive when there is such a proven and safe alternative.
Doctors often prescribe drugs to treat osteoporosis. While these can be effective, they only treat the symptoms of the problem - not the cause. Because of this, there is no conventional medical cure. There is no pill you can take, or magic liquid you can inject, that will cure your osteoporosis. You need to attack the heart of the problem.
When the disease is in the later stages the fragile bones caused by it often result in a fracture of some type, especially broken wrists, hips and spinal bone, and these fractures can have serious consequences.
Fractures in seniors can lead to severe pain and loss of mobility as well as limiting the lifestyle of the person affected. Even after a fracture has healed the pain may be considerable and the challenge is to cope with this pain as effectively as possible.
Although it is a part of the natural aging process, but in some individuals this process is very fast. The main factors responsible for this are calcium deficiency and hormonal changes in the body.
Not only have I got a fear of anesthetic, but I was afraid of taking the drugs the doctor was insisting upon which would help the fibroids shrink to make the surgery less dangerous because they had a dreadful list of side effects which included hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, thinning vaginal tissues and the appearance of wrinkles on the face. Great! Not only was I going to lose my uterus, but my youth too!
This is a common cause of fractures in the elderly. Thinning of the bones leads to increased risk of fractures, particularly of the lumbar vertebrae, wrist, hip, shoulder and the femur, or thigh bone. It is possible to prevent and to treat osteoporosis. However, you must take action.
Well, that title does put the pressure on, doesn't it? Medicine wants you to believe that curing something like osteoporosis is complicated. It is always in the best interest of the drug companies that you not understand how your condition develops and how to go about reversing it without their drug.
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Vitamin D and Osteoporosis - By: DoctorsHealthPress
International experts on medicine are weighing in on what we should all be aiming for: to treat and prevent osteoporosis. The targets: calcium and vitamin D. With the widespread implications of this bone-weakening disease, we would do well to all know what they are thinking.
In late November, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences released new recommendations on dietary reference intakes for vitamin D across all age categories. The report from this U.S. institution is based on all the research they could find, high-quality studies, which supported people using calcium and vitamin D to improve bone health.
The IOM found that all adults should aim for 600 international units (IU) a day, and adults over 70 should aim for 800 IU a day.
Vitamin D deficiency itself is an important health issue to address, as it has been linked to the development of osteoporosis and hip fractures, as well as other skeletal and non-skeletal disorders. (And, not to mention, a slew of diseases throughout the body. )
The IOM recommendations for your daily intake of vitamin D have increased since 1997, which osteoporosis experts have commended. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), meanwhile, is busy trying to reduce the burden of vitamin D deficiency worldwide.
This past April, IOF published global recommendations for vitamin D in older adults, the age group most at risk of osteoporosis. The IOF advised higher daily intakes for older adults in the range of 800 to 1,000 IU per day.
It’s important to note that the amount needed per day varies per person. Some who get good exposure to the sun each day will require less vitamin D, for example. On the other hand, those who are overweight or obese would need more vitamin D. There are many other factors, some unidentified, that might play a role as well. This means it’s important to check with your family doctor on what level of vitamin D intake is best for your particular case.
However, in general, the IOM says an older adult can safely take doses of 4,000 IU per day of vitamin D. You should consult your doctor before you take a dose that high, though, as once you start getting over 1,500 IU a day, you would be doing so to directly fight a disease.
The IOF says the IOM vitamin D recommendations won’t cover the needs of high-risk seniors. Obese individuals, those with osteoporosis, those with limited sun exposure, and those who have absorption problems are all likely to need more vitamin D.
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Osteoporosis Treatment and Effective Home Remedies for Osteoporosis - By: dr. sarkozy mikal
Osteoporosis is a sickness of bones that leads to an greater than before risk of fracture. Osteoporosis literally means 'porous bones'.
The two Greek languages which make up the term osteoporosis are "osteon" which income bone and "poros" which means pore.
In osteoporosis the bone stone density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is failing, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered.
Read more on Fights Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis Knee Treatment and Herbal Treatment for Arthritis
Osteoporosis is a form characterized by a decrease in the density of bone, lessening its strength and resulting in fragile bones. Osteoporosis literally leads to strangely porous bone that is compressible, like a sponge. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone and results in common fractures (breaks) in the bones.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterize by low bone mass and loss of bone tissue that may lead to weak and fragile bones. If you have osteoporosis, you have an increased risk for fractured bones (broken bones), particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Osteoporosis is often measured to be a condition that frail elderly women develop. However, the damage from osteoporosis begins much earlier in life.
Because peak bone density is reach at approximately 25 years of age, it is important to build strong bones by that age, so that the bones will stay strong later in life.
Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and more probable to break. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is common in older women. As many as half of all women and a district of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Treatment
Osteoporosis is a state in which bones become weak due to decrease in the amount of mineral & bony material in a meticulous bone characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD).
It is one of the most ordinary bone diseases in human being and, while usually thought of as a problem primarily of post-menopausal women, it is also significant problem for men. In osteoporosis bone becomes porous from inside & it has less calcium & other minerals, less strength & thus more prone to fracture & deformity .Thus osteoporotic bones are weak bones.
Normally bones are made up of inner honeycomb like lamellar bone surrounded by a thick outer shell called cortical bone. In osteoporosis there is decrease density of bone and bone becomes fragile.
The osteoporosis of bone weakens the bone most important to an increase in the risk of bone fracture. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis can fracture with only a minor fall or injury that normally would not cause a bone fracture.
Home Remedies for Osteoporosis
1. Vitamin K in small doses (nearly fifty microgram/day) will help in the porosity of the bones. It is useful in osteoporosis cure.
2. Avoid meat in the diet. This is to be replace by the green leafy vegetables. This will prevent bones being hollow.
3. Manganese (as present in pineapple) will be beneficial in the condition of osteoporosis.
4. Simply taking one tsp of honey daily will reduce the risk of being suffer by osteoporosis and is one of the simple home remedies for osteoporosis.
5. Be aware of taking the milk diet or milk creation diet. The Vitamin D present in milk will not allow the body to absorb the calcium. In fact, it will draw calcium out of the bones.
6. A handful of sesame seeds had each morning is one of the helpful home remedies for osteoporosis.
7. Some of the experts suggest that having a cup of tea daily, with additional milk in it will improve your form of osteoporosis.
8. Dairy products are good to have while pain from osteoporosis.
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Osteoporosis Simple Natural Cure for Brittle Bone Disease - By: steevaustin
Osteoporosis affects both men and women. It is a degenerative disease where the bone density starts reducing over a period of time. There are many treatment options available that can help with the side effects of the disease but many people prefer to try natural osteoporosis treatments as they prefer them to taking drugs and medications.
Natural Cure and Tips for Osteoporosis
An increased intake of magnesium, calcium and zinc may help prevent the worst effects of osteoporosis. These can be taken as a part of a good vitamin and mineral supplement as well as increasing the intake of foods that are high in these minerals. In particular it is important to have sufficient zinc.
Foods containing boron, which reduces the body's excretion of calcium and magnesium, and increases the production of estrogen, should be eaten. These foods include pears, prunes, raisins and apples.
Take plenty of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A (as beta carotene). The antioxidants will help to slow degeneration. Vitamin C is also important for the absorption of minerals such as zinc.
Vitamin D is essential because it helps the body absorb calcium. You may have a vitamin D deficiency, perhaps because of inadequate exposure to sunlight, and this should be rectified by allowing 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight onto arms, legs or back daily, although the exact exposure requirements do vary depending on geographic latitude, darkness of skin and even air quality.
Vitamin K is just as important as vitamin D for the absorption calcium. A lot of supplements considered to help delicacy osteoporosis fail to take in vitamin K while others include an inappropriate form or simply give too little or an improperly balanced quantity, having regard for the total result of the complement.
Take essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 oils to slow down the loss of calcium in the urine.
Get as much weight bearing exercise as you can. Placing demands on the bones by using the muscles that are attached to them will encourage the body to build bone than to loose it.
Doing all the above is important. Equally important is not doing things that will undermine your positive efforts.
So it is important to avoid salt, sugar and refined carbohydrates, coffee and alcohol.
Of course, if you smoke you are destroying your fitness in various ways. It is essential that you stop smoking. Join a quit smoking program such as Growerz.com and gain support and assistance to quit for good.
Eat a diet that is low in or has eliminated dairy products and has reduced amounts of meat (once or twice per week for animal protein). Animal protein increases the rate at which calcium is withdrawn from the bones.
You need to cleanse your body of toxic material so that everything, including your bones and joints are able to work effectively.
This brings us to the fact that you need to eat plenty of calcium rich food such as collard and turnip greens, dried figs, spinach, kale and broccoli. You will note that dairy products and animal proteins are not a part of this list.
Indeed eating large amounts of dairy and other animal proteins can undermine all your other efforts and can increase the loss of calcium from your bones - but how this occurs is another story.
If you have caffeine, alcohol, antacids, drugs, sugar, or refined food it won't matter how good the rest of the diet is. When the body's pH balance becomes acidic, calcium is pulled from the bones to buffer this acidic state, thereby weakening the bones.
A study at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine at La Jolla reports that as little as two drinks of alcohol in a day could cut the benefits of calcium in one's diet.
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Choosing the Most-effective Osteoporosis Med - Actonel vs Boniva vs Fosamax - By: tanya crane
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that leads to an increased risk of fractures and breaks, the condition is characterized by a decrease in bone density. Bones that comprise the human skeleton are composed of protein, collagen, and calcium, a loss of any one or all of these components can lead to osteoporosis. Bone density will accumulate as an infant through to childhood and peak around the age of 25. At the age of 35 both men and women will have a loss in bone density as a part of the normal aging process. When people begin to lose more bone density than can be regenerated the bones become weak and fragile, making simple daily tasks very painful or even impossible.
Women, especially post menopausal women, are more susceptible to osteoporosis. Estrogen is important in maintaining bone density in females, so when estrogen levels drop in a woman’s body bone density loss is accelerated.
There are lifestyle changes that can be incorporated for people who suffer from osteoporosis, such as, exercising regularly, eliminating certain foods and drinks, quitting smoking, and avoiding caffeine. Osteoporosis medications can also help by slowing down the rate at which bone density is lost. Most osteoporosis medications are taken either once-a-week or once-a-month and fall into the category of medications known as Bisphosphonates. These types of medications alter the cycle of bone formation in that they slow bone loss while increasing bone mass. The most commonly prescribed medications are Actonel (which comes in both once-a-week and once-a-month tablets), Fosamax (once-a-week), and Boniva (once-a-month). All are effective osteoporosis medications, and making the decision of which medication will work best for you should be decided after an evaluation by your doctor.
If you are considering treatment of one these medications be sure to inform you doctor if you have low blood calcium also known as hypocalcemia, a vitamin D deficiency, kidney disease or an ulcer in your stomach or oesophagus.
Fosamax was the first of these medications to be approved, followed by Actonel a couple of years later. Actonel medication is taken as a once weekly 35mg tablet and Fosamax is also a once weekly 70mg tablet, while Boniva is a once-a-month 150mg tablet. All three medications have been proven to be equally effective, and have shown significant increase in bone density. The difference in the medications is the areas of the body that the medication targets. Actonel is approved to reduce fractures at vertevral and non-vertebral sites (hip, wrist, pelvis, legs and humerous), Fosamax targets the vertebral and hip, and Boniva is approved for the spine only.
All three medications are beneficial and effective at increasing bone density and reducing the risk of breaks or fractures, you and your physician need to evaluate your individual condition in order to decipher which of the three medications will be the best choice for you.
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Best Treatment for Osteoporosis - By: angelinadiaz
Osteoporosis is the disease, which mainly find in the women. Women face the problem of low bone mass and loss of bone tissue that’s the major cause of weak and fragile bones. Osteoporosis is the disease which increases the possibility of fracture mainly the area of hips, wrist and spine. This diseases increase in elder women rapidly and this number will increase in short span of time. Osteoporosis equally effect on the male also. Main cause of the osteoporosis is that reducing healthy item from meal. Basically, osteoporosis occur when there is an imbalances new bone formation and old bone restoration. In that condition body may not able to make new bone. This condition arises when you don’t take bones essential items are calcium and phosphate in your meal. However, patient can easily bridge the gap by taking supplements. Here are giving the supplement which is effective way to cure the problem of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is the diseases which easily cured by Fosamax supplements and customer can easily get on the HealthPharmaRx.com. Its website which stand different and customer can easily rely on that website. It gives assurance for rich quality of medication. This website assured the customer that drug has long expiry so customer can easily use for long time. HealthPharmaRx.com is the website, which provides osteoporosis-curing drug on discounted rate as compared to others website. Along with that customer can get discount also on large quantity orders. Fosamax is the generic drug include all substance which useful in healing this problem. HealthPharmaRx provides this medication without any medical prescription.
HealthPharmaRx.com has available several drugs for several diseases. It’s a leading website in that segment or it wins the heart of customer in short span of time. HealthPharmaRx.com has 24/7 customer support so customer do not need to see the watch when they have any problem regarding the drug. Customer support officers always ready for fulfilling the customer query. Website place the order any part of the world with specific time. Website is more useful for those people who live in remote area of the world. HealthPharmaRx.com provides schemes also to customers, which can helpful in getting drug in cheap rates. However, make sure osteoporosis is the disease which fully cures when you take healthy food along with supplements. Those people who suffer by these diseases ensure do regular exercise, which give effective results and you can early rid off the diseases.
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Osteoporosis: Prevalence and Management - By: Zenolite
Osteoporosis is often referred to as the 'silent disease' because the bone loss is gradual and usually occurs without visible symptoms until the disease is advanced. 1 Often the first time many sufferers discover they have it is when they experience a fracture. Fractures are a common consequence of the bones becoming weaker.
Osteoporosis is a major cause of disability in Australia.2 It is a serious disease that affects 2.2 million Australians, that number is expected to increase to 3 million by 2012.
Currently someone is admitted to hospital every 5-6 minutes with an osteoporotic fracture2. The number of hip fractures sustained each year is projected to increase by 15% every 5 years until 20262. The increasing prevalence of osteoporosis is linked to Australia’s ageing population.
There are various measures that can be taken to treat osteoporosis; however the best approach is to prevent it from occurring. Some of the steps to prevent osteoporosis include3,4,5,6:
Adequate daily calcium intake;
Adequate vitamin D through diet, supplementation or exposure to sunlight;
Maintain a healthy body weight;
And, doing plenty of weight-bearing exercise such as walking or jogging.
If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, it is likely that your doctor will recommend the following:
1. Lifestyle changes which may include:
• Increasing your calcium intake through your daily diet or supplements
• Increasing the amount of exercise each week. If you have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis any exercise program should be evaluated for safety by your doctor before you begin.
• Quitting smoking.
• Decreasing your alcohol intake.
• Increasing your exposure to limited sunlight to correct any vitamin D deficiencies or with supplementation.
2. Medication to stop further bone loss and help prevent fractures.
3. Fall prevention measures that will hopefully result in a reduction in falls that lead to bone fractures.
Adequate calcium intake helps to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. As the bones become weaker, fractures may occur simply under the burden of supporting the body. Even minor falls can cause serious fracture, especially to the spine, hip or wrist. Fractures of the spinal vertebrae may result in persistent back pain, curvature of the spine and loss of height.
To learn more about osteoporosis risks and prevention, visit http://www.caltrate.com.au/
Always read the label. Use only as directed.
References
1. Osteoporosis Australia (2007). What is Osteoporosis? http://www.osteoporosis.org.au accessed 13 May 2010.
2. The Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Western Hospital, Footscray, Victoria (2007). The Burden of Brittle Bones: Epidemiology, Costs & Burden of Osteoporosis in Australia.
3. Access Economics Limited (2001). The Burden of Brittle Bones: Costing Osteoporosis in Australia.
4. Diamond T. (2001). Men and Osteoporosis. The Australian Family Physician 30 (8): 781-785
5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2008). A Picture of Osteoporosis.
6. National Osteoporosis Foundation. NOF Osteoporosis Prevention – Risk Factors for Osteoporosis. Retrieved 7 July 1010 from http://www.nof.org/prevention/risk.htm
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Osteoporosis Causes and Symptoms and Alternative Treatment of Osteoporosis - By: Dr Charles Buchar
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones characterized by a decrease in bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine and wrist.
The word "osteoporosis" literally means "porous bones." Osteoporosis (pronounced OSS-tee-o-puh-RO-sis) occurs when bones begin to lose some of their essential elements. The most important of these elements is calcium. Over time, bone mass decreases. As a result, bones lose their strength, become fragile, and break easily. In extreme cases, even a sneeze or a sudden movement may be enough to break a bone.
Causes of Osteoporosis
Causes of osteoporosis are heredity and lifestyle. Whites and Asians, tall and thin women and those with a history of osteoporosis are those at the highest risk of getting osteoporosis. The behavioral causes of increasing the risk of osteoporosis are smoking, alcohol abuse, prolonged inactivity and a diet low in calcium. There are also some diseases that are associated with aging that cause osteoporosis, which include kidney failure, liver disease, cancers, Paget´s disease, endocrine or glandular diseases, gonadal failure and rheumatoid arthritis. There are some medications like steroids, seizure drugs, thyroid hormone and blood thinners that are also found to cause osteoporosis.
Symptoms and Treatment
Usually, osteoporosis does not cause any symptoms at first. Osteoporosis is often called the "silent" disease, because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People often don't know they have the disease until a bone breaks, frequently in a minor fall that wouldn't normally cause a fracture. Many people confuse osteoporosis with arthritis and believe they can wait for symptoms such as swelling and joint pain to occur before seeing a doctor. It should be stressed that the mechanisms
Risk Factor of Osteoporosis
1. A diet low in calcium, either as an adult or as a child, can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis.
2. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Lack of vitamin D is another risk factor for developing osteoporosis.
3. Smoking cigarettes interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium.
4. Excessive alcohol consumption also makes it difficult for calcium to be absorbed. Bones will be weaker without sufficient calcium.
Treatment of Osteoporosis
Although osteoporosis has no cure, several types of medications are available to reduce the rate of bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce the number of fractures. In general, they work in two main ways: they lessen bone break down (anti-resorptive agents) or they stimulate the formation of new bone (anabolic agents).
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy (HT) was once the mainstay of treatment for osteoporosis. But because of concerns about its safety and because other treatments are available, the role of hormone therapy in managing osteoporosis is changing. Most problems have been linked to certain oral types of HT, either taken in combination with progestin or alone.In addition, it is important to get enough vitamin D. A daily intake of 400 IU, but no more than 800 IU, each day is recommended. Obtaining adequate amounts of vitamin D from our food may be difficult. The main sources of dietary vitamin D are fortified milk (100 IU/cup), egg yolks (25 IU/yolk) and oily fish (vitamin D content varies).
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Calorie Restricted Diet Without Exercise May Lead to Bone Loss - By: womanmagz
People who lose weight through cutting calories alone may be losing bone density, and increasing their risk of osteoporosis while those who combine diet and exercis does not seem to produce the same effect, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Losing weight without proper exercise and a healthy diet can have disastrous effects on your body. Lack of exercise can result in decreased bone density, which increases the risk for osteoporosis (weakening of the bones) and hip fractures in older men and women.
Scientists, led by Dennis T. Villareal, M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, and colleagues examined the effects of weight loss on bone loss in 48 adults (30 women and 18 men, with an average age of 57). Researchers divided the participants into three groups:
1. Restricted calories - 19 were assigned to follow a calorie-restricted diet (to decrease energy intake by 16 percent for three months, then by 20 percent for nine months)
2. Exercise - 19 were placed on a graduated regimen of exercise to increase energy expenditure by 16 percent for 3 months and then by 20 percent for 9 months, with no reduction in calories.
3. Information Only - 10 were simply offered information on healthy lifestyles only when requested.
All participants were weighed at the beginning of the study and again after one, three, six, nine and 12 months. Bone mineral density was measured every three months using a technique known as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Blood tests were also taken at the start and at 6 and 12 months to see if bone tissue was being absorbed and regenerated.
After one year, the researchers found that those in the calorie restriction group lost an average of 8.2 kilograms (18.1 pounds) and lost bone density in three high-risk locations: the lower spine (2.2%), the hip (2.2%), and the top of the femur (2.1%), those in the exercise group lost 6.7 kilograms (14.8 pounds) with no significant loss of bone density and those in the healthy lifestyle group 3 showed no change in weight or bone density.
In both group calorie restriction and group exercise, people who lost weight also experienced increased "bone turnover," the process by which old bone is removed from the skeleton. while in the exercise group increased muscle action during exercise stimulated the creation of new bone material to compensate for that loss!
Take a note if you are trying to lose weight and protect your skeleton, especially if you are an older adult, mixing diet with exercise would be best for protecting your bones.
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Osteoporosis Causes, Symptoms, Risk factor, Treatment and Natural Home Remedies for Osteoporosis - By: Dr Charles Buchar
The meaning of the term ‘Osteoporosis’ originates from ‘Osteo’ meaning bone, and ‘porosis’ implying thinning or becoming more porous. Hence, osteoporosis literally means ‘thinning of bone’. Medically, Osteoporosis is a disease of bone in which the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced which means one has a low bone mass and deteriorating bone tissue. In simple words the bones become thin, brittle and may be easily broken. Bone mass (bone density) is the amount of bone present in the skeletal structure. The higher the density the stronger are the bones. Bone density is strongly influenced by genetic factors, which in turn are sometimes modified by environmental factors and medications.
If Osteoporosis is not prevented in the early stages or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until the bone tends to break. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist. The fracture caused by osteoporosis can be either in the form of cracking (as in a hip fracture), or collapsing (as in a compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spine). Though thee spine, hips, and wrists are common areas of osteoporosis-related bone fractures almost any skeletal bone area is susceptible to osteoporosis-related fracture.
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Severe pain, humpback, actual loss of height, are the main symptoms. Spasms of the back muscles and backache, thinning of pelvic bones, loss in twisting and bending strength, aching of the long bones and frequent occurrence of fractures.
Causes of Osteoporosis
1. Prolonged deficiency of calcium and Vitamin D demineralizes the skeleton and shrinks it. The disease is more prevalent among women.
2. Chronic alcoholism and heavy smoking.
3. Excess consumption of meat.
4. Reduced physical activities with age.
5. Post menopausal hormonal imbalance and prolonged cortisone treatment are other factors.
How to Prevent Osteoporosis
As we grow older, our skeletal system degenerates making our bones weak and prone to fracture. However, if you start living a healthy lifestyle early in your life, you may be able to interrupt the development of this disease. Here are some ways to prevent your chances of developing osteoporosis:
1. Get regular weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, jogging, climbing stairs, dancing, or weight lifting. Weight-bearing exercise helps keep bones strong and decreases the risk of developing osteoporosis.
2. Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Both are needed for building healthy, strong bones. You can get a boost of Vitamin D by drinking fortified milk or by spending 10 to 15 minutes in the sun each day (if you have a dark skin, you will need more time in the sun). Take supplements of calcium and vitamin D if you are not getting enough in your diet.
3. Don’t smoke.
4. Limit your alcohol intake to 1 drink per day or less.
5. Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine increases calcium loss from your body and puts you at risk for osteoporosis.
6. There are medications, including estrogen, which can help prevent osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about whether these are ideal for you.
Home Remedies for osteoporosis
1. Oats, rice, millet and barley, sour milk products and foods rich in lactic acid should be consumed in liberal quantities.
2. Fruits like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries; sunflower seeds and sesame seeds; carrots, cabbage and green vegetables rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and silicon are particularly beneficial.
3. Avoid overeating and large meals. Chew food thoroughly.
4. Trace mineral boron prevents calcium loss and de-mineralization.
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Osteoporosis – How to Avoid It - By: Kenny Stewart
Osteoporosis can afflict both men and women though women are at a higher risk after menopause due to drops in estrogen levels. When estrogen levels drop dramatically during and post menopause, bone loss accelerates. Bone building reaches its peak during the mid thirties, by the time we're 40 years old, bone loss exceeds bone building. By the time a diagnosis of osteoporosis is made, a significant amount of bone quality will have been lost.
Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease that causes the bones to lose their mineral content (bone mineral density – BMD) and become very fragile resulting in fractures and breaks. The bones become porous and weak but the disease itself can remain symptomless until a fracture or break occurs and tests are run.
Osteoporosis can largely be avoided by calcium supplementation and exercise. Exercise increases bone density which prevents the risk of developing osteoporosis. Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining optimal health and reducing the risk of disease.
Calcium supplements are essential throughout life but this is especially so in the mid twenties. Women should start taking calcium supplements by the age of 30 if they haven't already been doing so.
With the wide range of brands and types of calcium supplements available on the market it can be a daunting process to choose which to take. But once you understand the basics of calcium supplements, it should be easier. The most important factor to look for is elemental calcium. Don't be fooled by numbers or the size of the tablet. Elemental calcium is the absorbable amount of calcium contained in a supplement. An adult generally needs about 1000 mg of elemental calcium per day though individual needs vary, so a doctor's advice is recommended. This daily dose should be taken after meals for maximum absorption and ideally you should divide your daily calcium intake into two daily doses.
Another important factor to look for when choosing a calcium supplement is to make sure it contains vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium, without it, your body won't be able to use the calcium you provide it. While it is possible to obtain vitamin D naturally from sunlight, showers and clothes reduce our exposure and ability to absorb it so taking a vitamin D supplement with calcium ensures optimal calcium absorption. Think of calcium as a deposit you're putting into your body and you will reap the interest in your later years.
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Osteoporosis Treatment and Prevention Options - By: Aileen Ellison
Every year millions of people, mainly post-menopausal women, are diagnosed with osteoporosis, an abnormal loss of bony tissue resulting in fragile, porous bones. Fortunately, there are many treatments available from both prescription drugs and natural supplements. The most common drugs prescribed by doctors are bisphosphonates, which have been shown to reduce bone loss, increase bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. They are taken orally via tablet under the following names:
Ibandronate (Boniva)
Alendronate (Fosamax)
Etidronate (Didronel)
Risedronate (Actonel)
Taken by injection once per year:
Zoledronic Acid (Reclast)
Alternatives to Bisphosphonates
While these bisphosphonate drugs are very effective in reducing bone loss, many patients do experience mild to severe side effects. These can include heartburn; painful swallowing; chest, bone or muscle pain; stomach upset or even osteonecrosis of the jaw (also known as jaw bone death). As an alternative, doctors may prescribe Raloxifene (brand name Evista) that is not a bisphosphonate. It has the added benefit of possibly lowering the risk of invasive breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Historically, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was a popular treatment for osteoporosis. However a 2002 study by the Women’s Health Initiative found an increased risk of invasive breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and blood clots in women who took estrogen plus progestin for long periods of time. In the same year, the National Cancer Institute study found an increased risk of ovarian cancer in those who took estrogen for hormone replacement therapy. Today many doctors are now discouraging the long-term use of HRT for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Calcitonin (Calcimar) is also a hormone that inhibits the cells that break down bone and decreases further bone loss in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis. Administered by nasal inhaler or as an injection, the results from Calcitonin have been found to be significantly less than that of bisphosphonates or estrogen and may be limited to the spine.
Natural Osteoporosis Treatment and Prevention
The very best way to prevent osteoporosis is by diet and exercise, starting at a very early age. Those who limit the use of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, perform weight bearing exercises and take calcium and Vitamin D supplements reduce their risk of losing bone density. Don't let osteoporosis sneak up on you, be sure to ask your doctor about DEXA scan testing, to assess your bone mineral density.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Diagnosing & Treating Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease
Heath Diet - Eating for Better Medication and Food Interaction in Parkinson's - By: Candice McInnes
This is not a diet as such, more a informational article about eating the correct foods to assist with the medication the patient is taking for Parkinson's. The diet is well balanced and nutritious and will be extremely beneficial in the long run as it will increase the well-being of the patient by giving them more energy and helping their bodies work more effectively.
The most commonly prescribed drug is Levodopa [there are many more but this is the one I have had the most dealings with] and the information I am giving you is based on some of the experiences I have had in my years of nursing.
Most importantly - get the patient onto a well balanced eating plan:
* ensure the patient eats a variety of foods from each food group
* maintain the patients weight with a proper balance of exercise and food
* include the high fiber foods
* watch the protein intake - can affect the medications effectiveness [ask the doctor if you think this needs to be changed]
* use foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol
* limit or avoid sugars [refined or otherwise]
* drink up to 2 liters of water a day [no less than 1 and 1/2 liters]
* limit the salt intake
* alcohol could cause the medication to work ineffectively - limit this beverage as much as possible
* a daily vitamin supplement may also be necessary depending on how well the patient reacts to his/her new eating plan
Pointers in taking the Parkinson's medication
This medicine generally works better on a empty stomach, give it to the patient 30 minutes before their meal where-ever possible [or wait at least 1 hour after a meal]. Ensure that it is taken with a full glass of water as this aids in the absorption of the medication [and assists with the daily water requirement].
This drug can cause nausea on a empty stomach and the doctor could try to control it by combining 2 of the 'dopa' class drugs [levodopa and carbidopa - named Sinemet]. If the nausea continues the patient might have to go on a separate drug to control nausea. I have listed a few tips below to try control this nausea naturally:
* avoid citrus juices - these are acidic and can increase the feeling of nausea
* do not let the patient consume fried, greasy or sweet foods - just typing that line made me slightly nauseous
* let the patient eat smaller amounts with more frequency - this could help as the patient will not feel bloated
* try not to mix hot and cold foods at the same meal - give them a hot pudding with their hot meal etc
* if the smell makes the patient nauseous - feed him or her cold or room temperature food [eliminates the smell of hot food which can be off putting to anyone with nausea]
* try getting the patient to drink between meals rather than with meals
* let them snack on light and bland foods - crackers or plain bread - if they wake up feeling nauseated in the morning [before breakfast]. Sometimes if the patient eats a high protein snack [lean meat or cheese] before going to bed they will not wake up with the nausea
* generally let the patient eat when they are feeling less nauseous [can be hard at times if you are looking after more than one patient]
REMEMBER - always consult the patients doctor before making any major changes to his/her medication or diet.
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Brain Pacemaker Reduces Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease - By: Gloria Hao Schneider
Hyderabad is the capital and most populous city of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is known as the city of pearls, lakes and, lately, for its IT companies.
Doctors at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences there are performing an innovative surgical procedure to help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease, or PD, is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions.
PD's symptoms include tremor, stiffness, and slowing of movement caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the mid brain . PD also causes neuropsychiatric disturbances, which include mainly cognition, mood and behavior problems and can be as disabling as motor symptoms.
PD usually affects seniors and older adults in the age group ranging from 55 - 75 years old, but it can also develop in younger people. The disease is progressive, with symptoms becoming more severe over time.
Deep brain stimulation, a complicated surgery also known as the pacemaker for the brain, is fast evolving into a reliable therapy for Parkinson's disease.
A team of neurosurgeons at the institute has managed to achieve an improvement of 80 per cent in the condition of patients crippled by Parkinson's.
The team has conducted close to 90 successful surgeries, helping patients lead a life of independence and dignity. While pacemakers for the brain may not cure Parkinson's, neurologists say the therapy has drastically reduced the symptoms and managed to improve the quality of life.
Deep brain stimulation involves placing electrodes in the 'sub-thalamus' region of the brain. The electrodes are connected to a pacemaker (Implantable Pulse Generator) which sends electrical signals to the brain to stimulate its activity.
The pacemaker is placed just below the collarbone, and runs on a battery, which has a shelf life of five years. Doctors program the pacemaker to deliver appropriate stimulation to the brain.
"We have seen remarkable transformation in patients. Many have gone back to lead their normal lives. The rate of worsening of the disease has reduced," says Rupam Borgohain, Professor of Neurology, who heads the DBS procedure at the NIMS.
If you are searching in the US for suitable living environments for a loved one suffering from dementia, PD or other elderly related diseases, Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800Seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors
searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, visit Hospice Information call 1-800-768-8221.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Surgery For Parkinson’s Disease - By: Mary Brown
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative illness that affects about one percent of men and women over the age of 50. Despite tremendous advances in drugs and techniques to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, not everyone is able to benefit from these improvements. Parkinson’s disease is a highly individualized condition that attacks each patient differently. With the promise of stem cell therapy on the horizon, coupled with the general effectiveness of existing drug treatments, including the commonly-administered levodopa, most Parkinson’s sufferers are able to cope with their disease. There are, however, a number of cases of rapidly-progressing or unusually severe Parkinson’s that necessitate surgery as the best treatment option. Like drug therapy, surgery may decrease the effects of symptoms such as tremors and mobility problems, but is not a cure.
Is surgery for Parkinson’s the best option for you? There is no simple answer. Parkinson’s surgery is brain surgery, which by its very nature is highly risky. There is always the very real potential for permanent brain damage. If, however, all other non-invasive treatment options have been ineffective, doctor and patient may determine that surgery is the best available option to manage the Parkinson’s symptoms.
A pallidotomy may be required for Parkinson’s patients with an especially aggressive case of the disease. It may also be selected for those among the small percentage of patients who do not respond to medication. If the latter is the case, it might be worthwhile to get a second opinion for your Parkinson’s diagnosis before going ahead with surgery. It is worthwhile to note that there are several conditions that have similar characteristics to Parkinson’s but that do not respond to ant-Parkinsonian drugs. During the course of surgery, a small hole will be drilled in the skull and an electric probe inserted. The probe is used to destroy a small part of the portion of the brain known as the global pallidus. Parkinson’s experts think that an overactive global pallidus affects people who suffer from the disease, and that by destroying it, medication-induced rigidity and dyskinesia may be reduced. Pallidotomies have been used since the 1990s. A similar procedure, called a thalamotomy, is used to destroy cells in the thalamus. This surgery can be helpful in treating debilitating hand and arm tremors. A less destructive, but nonetheless risky, surgical option is called deep brain stimulation. In deep brain stimulation an electrode is implanted into the brain. The electrode transmits electrical pulses to stimulate the brain while also blocking the signals that cause Parkinson’s symptoms. Think of it as a sort of pacemaker for the brain. Compared to other surgical options, deep brain stimulation is a relatively new procedure that has been found to be helpful in improving motor function.
Surgery is not the answer for everyone. It is risky and therefore should be used as a last alternative. In addition to the health aspects and risks, prospective Parkinson’s surgical patients may also have to weigh financial considerations when deciding whether or not to have surgery. All of the surgical procedures are costly to administer and may not be covered by all health care insurance plans.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Parkinson’s Disease - By: Groshan Fabiola
Parkinson’s disease is easily noticeable because of its physical manifestations. A problem that develops mostly in elderly people, Parkinson’s is very important to acknowledge so that it can be taken care of at its early stages. Knowing what it is and what the symptoms are will help you to catch it in the beginning and start treatment immediately. Parkinson’s disease results when brain cells deteriorate. It is a chronic condition because it has no cure and does not go away by itself. It is also a degenerative disease, which means that it breaks down the body of the person it attacks. Muscle control is lost due to a lack of dopamine in the brain and, therefore, a difficulty in walking, coordination, and severe shaking develop.
A person with Parkinson’s disease may also notice a change in his or her voice. A person’s voice may become low and monotone, with little or no inflection. Akinesia and bradykinesia may also manifest as trouble executing certain movements, and increased slowness when movements are attempted. Talking more quietly is another affect of the disease, as is difficulty with motor skills. The result is lessened in fine motor skills dexterity and may mean the person with Parkinson’s may require help with everyday tasks such as shaving, tying laces, fastening buttons, and handwriting. Oily skin and dandruff is an affect of seborrheic dermatitis. Therefore, Parkinson’s patients may notice that they have developed greasier skin, especially around the nose and eyebrows, and a greasier scalp. This symptom is often accompanied by increased sweating. Non-specific sensory symptoms include unusual sensory feelings such as numbness, pain, burning sensation, restlessness and fatigue. Lastly, depression and senility, as well
as dementia, are also symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Some of the signs of Parkinson’s to look out for include tremors and trembling. For nearly three quarters of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the appearance of tremors or trembling is the first noticeable symptom. Muscle stiffness is another symptom of the disease. Patients experiencing stiffness or rigidity may not notice any other symptoms of this characteristic. In fact, the person may not even notice the signs of rigidity unless a physician notes it during a physical examination. The presence of physical rigidity, such as decreased arm swing, is especially useful in helping medical personnel establish a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. This may also include ’Freezing’ which is the sudden inability to move when you want to. If a foot on one side starts to drag, and you have difficulty walking through doorways and hallways, you should go to a doctor. Lacking coordination and having difficulty maintaining balance, controlling facial muscles, are causes of akinesia and bradykinesia. These cha
racteristics may manifest themselves in the face, for example, as reduced facial expression, infrequent blinking, and slow swallowing resulting in increased saliva secretion, and occasionally, drooling.
Feeling anxious, angry, discouraged or depressed is common as the brain is undergoing a number of chemical changes. Approximately forty to seventy percent of Parkinson’s sufferers experiences depression at times, while twenty percent of these are a major depressive disorder. Parkinson’s disease is not something to be taken lightly, as it is very serious and can cause permanent problems.
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Diagnosing & Treating Parkinson’s Disease - By: John H. Rogers
Characterized as a movement disorder, Parkinson’s disease often is accompanied by muscle stiffness, a slowing or loss of physical movement, tremor, etc. In addition, Parkinson’s disease may carry symptoms that include mood swings (i.e., depression, anxiety, panic attacks, apathy, etc.), changes in behavior, sensations (i.e., arms, legs, hands, etc.) and the ability to process thoughts. Because each case of Parkinson’s disease is unique to the individual it affects, the symptoms may vary from one person to another.
There are several treatment options available to patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, including medication that may help to ease the symptoms, surgical procedures, a customized diet consisting of nutrition and exercise. Clinical research indicates that nutrients may help to treat Parkinson’s disease and may even help to slow it’s deteriorating effects. Certain types of physical activities, including yoga and dance are believed to be beneficial in helping to maintain mobility and may ease the discomfort associated with muscle stiffness caused by Parkinson’s disease.
Certain types of medication, including those prescribed for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, carry a risk of dangerous side effects. Therefore, it is important for patients to discuss any possible side effects with their physician prior to taking any medication. It is equally important that physicians be made aware of any past or current medical condition from which the patient suffers and/or any medications that they are currently using. At times, one medication can have a negative reaction with another, which is why it is very important that the patient disclose their medical history to the doctor who is treating them for Parkinson’s disease.
To this day, research continues in the fight to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Fundraisers and donations are all a part of what makes medical research possible and what many hope will eventually lead to a cure for this life-altering illness. While Parkinson’s disease may result in the patient becoming more apt to developing other medical conditions, the most common cause of death in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease is believed to be that of pneumonia.
The information in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as, or used in place of, medical advice or professional recommendations for the cause, diagnosis or treatment of Parkinson’s disease. If necessary, individuals should consult a medical doctor for information regarding the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease, a proper diagnosis and/or course of treatment.
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Six Tips for Dealing with Parkinson’s Disease - By: Carlo Morelli
That diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be frightening is certain. It’s a serious malady that, if left unchecked, can end in debilitating changes to one’s body. Nonetheless, advances in medical treatment in combination with some basic lifestyle changes can significantly lessen the impact of Parkinson’s disease.
Your diagnosing physician is always a valuable first resource. He or she can advise someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s about treatments and what to expect physiologicaly. Thanks to increased awareness brought about in part by actor Michael J. Fox’s disclosure that he lives with Parkinson’s and the subsequent creation of his foundation, and also due to new advances in stem cell research and other therapies, a lot of information about Parkinson’s disease is now available to the public.
Many countries have national associations with regional headquarters helping people with Parkinson’s.
Here is a list of six tips that will make living with Parkinson’s disease easier.
1. Exercise: Parkinson’s disease impacts your mobility, so it is important that people with Parkinson’s make certain their bodies are as strong and flexible as possible. Simple activities like stretching, walking, running, and swimming are ideal to build strength. If exercising by yourself doesn’t sound much fun, look into group classes, community walking clubs, or water-aerobics sessions. Many communities have low-cost facilities, equipment, space and instruction where necessary. Special classes which take particular conditions into consideration are also commonly available.
2. Diet: nutritional health is essential for strength and vitality no matter what your health situation. Through eating right, Parkinson’s patients can steady their energy and better control their weight, which can have a big effect on struggling muscles. Check with a physician to establish whether diet could have an adverse effect on medication. Case in point- high-protein foods may interfere with absorption of medications. Keeping a food journal can be an invaluable tool in pinpointing problems with medication.
3. Wardrobe: Parkinson’s reduces motor skills, which can make buttoning of shirts and pants, or doing up a bra difficult. Go for loose (but not flapping) clothing with elastic waists, pull-on shirts and dresses and a minimum of buttons, zippers, hooks and ties, as well as slip-on or Velcro-fastened shoes. This may not be required in the early stages of the disease, but will become important later on.
4. Compensating tactics: strategize about ways to overcome problems associated with Parkinson’s disease, like dropping things. For instance, Parkinson’s patients find they may often drop their wallets when fumbling for change.
To counteract this problem, buy a large wallet that is easy to grip and doesn’t send you digging into deep corners. Using a debit or credit card may be an easier alternative to searching for coins and bills. Another example of a helpful compensating strategy would be to switch from delicate porcelain tableware to more durable shatter-proof or plastic pieces.
5. Take naps: Parkinson’s can interfere with restorative sleep, even though many people who have the disease suffer from fatigue. Take a short nap a couple times a day to keep your energy up.
6. Be understanding: medical treatment and lifestyle changes can do a lot to minimize Parkinson’s symptoms, but it’s likely that people will notice things like tremors or tics at some point. Children, in particular, may ask blunt questions. Try not to be offended, and when possible, use it as a chance to educate about Parkinson’s and its effects.
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Signs of Parkinson's Disease - By: Mike Herman
Parkinson's disease tends to be a very frightening disease to be diagnosed with. Knowing what it is and what the symptoms are will help you to catch it in the early stages and begin treatment right away.
What is Parkinson's Disease?
When brain cells (neurons) deteriorate, Parkinson's disease is the result. It is considered a chronic condition, as opposed to acute, because it has no cure and doesn't go away by itself. It is also a degenerative disease, meaning that it breaks down the body of the person it attacks. Muscle control is lost due to a lack of dopamine in the brain and, because of this, a difficulty in walking, coordination, and severe shaking develop.
Characteristics and Signs of Parkinson's
Some of the signs of Parkinson's to look out for include:
• Tremors or Trembling: for nearly three quarters of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the appearance of tremors or trembling is the first noticeable symptom.
• Muscle stiffness -Parkinson’s patients experiencing stiffness or rigidity may not notice any other symptoms of this characteristic. In fact, the person may not even notice the signs of rigidity unless a physician notes it during a physical examination.
The presence of physical rigidity, such as decreased arm swing, is especially useful in helping medical personnel establish a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
This may also include 'Freezing' which is the sudden inability to move when you want to , a foot on one side starts to drag, and difficulty walking through doorways and hallways.
• Lacking coordination
• Difficulty maintaining balance
• Difficulty controlling facial muscles - Akinesia and bradykinesia - these characteristics may manifest themselves in the face, for example, as reduced facial expression, infrequent blinking, and slow swallowing resulting in increased saliva secretion, and occasionally, drooling.
A person with Parkinson’s disease may also notice a change in his or her voice: it may become low and monotone, with little or no inflection. Akinesia and bradykinesia may also appear as trouble executing certain movements, and increased slowness when movements are attempted or executed.
• Talking more quietly
• Raspy voice
• Difficulty with motor skills - The result is lessened in fine motor skills dexterity and may mean the person with Parkinson’s may require help with everyday tasks such as shaving, tying laces, fastening buttons, and handwriting.
• Oily skin and dandruff - Seborrheic dermatitis: Parkinson’s patients may notice that they have developed greasier skin, especially around the nose and eyebrows, and a greasier scalp. This symptom is usually accompanied by increased sweating.
• Non-specific sensory symptoms - Unusual sensory feelings such as numbness, pain, burning sensation, restlessness and fatigue can also be indicators of Parkinson’s disease.
• Depression and senility, as well as dementia, are secondary symptoms of Parkinson's.
Feeling anxious, angry, discouraged or downright depressed is common as the brain is undergoing a number of chemical changes. Approximately 40-70 percent of Parkinson’s sufferers experience depression at times, while 20 percent of these are considered a major depressive disorder.
Anxiety or panic attacks are common psychological elements of the disease as well. An average of 70 percent of people who have pre-existing depression also develop anxiety whereas 90 percent who first experience anxiety fall victim to depression.
Dementia is evidenced in 20-30 percent of sufferers and this gradual decline first starts with slowness in thought and advances to a difficulty in properly organizing thoughts.
In most cases, only one side of the body will be affected in the early stages of the disease, and the hands and feet are the most likely area where tremors will first be noticed.
One symptom does not mean that you have Parkinson's. It usually arrives in the form of a combination of symptoms over a prolonged period.
If you have concerns, consult your doctor.
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Parkinson's Disease - Things to Consider - By: Mike Herman
Being faced with the diagnosis of Parkinson's or any other disease is a frightening, but don't allow that initially felt fear, confusion, or even denial to cloud your judgment.
Doctor's are great at diagnosing diseases, but they 100's of patients and together with all of the paperwork and insurance headache, they tend to not personally get involved with each patient.
Meaning that you need to be the "captain of your own ship". You need to consider a number of things, such as:
Finding the "right" doctor, or doctors, for you. Develop a team of doctors, therapist, etc., that you trust and enjoy speaking with.
Join a support group near you and be on the look out for forums on the Internet where you can "chat" with others similarly affected so as to learn about solutions to problems and new treatments that you and your doctor may not be aware of.
All of the questions and thoughts to consider here are for you to ask yourself, your doctor(s), and other Parkinson's patients who you get to know via support groups and/or Internet forums.
* Why did I get this disease?
Might have been a genetic predisposition for them to develop it or environmental factors that played a role, such as where they lived or elements of their workplace.
Or were lifestyle choices such as diet, personal habits and/or exercise to blame?
* What treatments are available?
If the symptoms are mild some doctors may prescribe nothing more than change in diet or suggest including more exercise into the patient's day-to-day routine.
For symptoms to are more severe the doctor may prescribe medication. Levadopa (Sinemet ® ) is the most common, but newer drugs, Requip ® and Mirapex ® are being prescribed now days too. However medications don't always have the same effect on patients, so while on drug may help one person considerably, it may not work for someone else.
In some cases, usually the severest, surgery is the best option.
* Along with the benefits of the medications, don't forget the potential side effects.
Parkinson's' sufferers are often going through enough discomfort so you must make sure that you are aware of and prepared for any potential side effects of a medicine.
* Not all Parkinson patient are the same in the symptoms they suffer and some respond to medicines and other treatments differently.
What are the short and long term benefits of each treatment, is there anything that can be done to decrease the potential side effects of the treatment (particularly medicines)?
Don't just "sit back" and let your doctor decide everything, ask questions of your doctor but also be willing to allow yourself to accept what your doctor is recommending.
* Look at Yahoo, Healthboards.com, and BrainTalk Communities which are my favorite forums.
You can ask other members if there any alternative and/or non-drug related options that could help your condition?
You may find that some of the members have made modifications to their lifestyles (i.e. diet, exercise, reducing stress levels, etc.) that are helping them physically and emotionally to cope better with the progression of the disease.
Are there particular foods, drinks, over the counter medications and/or vitamin supplements that I should stay away from or look into?
Your health is not as it once was, even the "common" colds aren't so "common" any longer.
* You don't want any adverse drug reaction when your treatment and medications begin, be very careful about what you do and don't put into your body, especially supplements and other not so common over the counter vitamins and medications. Be sure to speak with your pharmacist.
* Can your doctor, your support group, or the Internet forum members recommend any non-traditional (or naturopathic) techniques for relaxation and reducing stress levels?
Look at city services, the local junior college for classes in yoga, meditation, reflexology, massage, deep breathing, etc.
The local support group may be aware of classes that would be of help to you.
* Are there any trials or clinical studies that you can be a part of?
If the idea interest you be sure to speak with your doctor, your support group and be on the look out, via the Internet, yourself.
Clinical studies need willing participants and these studies occasionally have very good results for the participants.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Heath Diet - Eating for Better Medication and Food Interaction in Parkinson's - By: Candice McInnes
This is not a diet as such, more a informational article about eating the correct foods to assist with the medication the patient is taking for Parkinson's. The diet is well balanced and nutritious and will be extremely beneficial in the long run as it will increase the well-being of the patient by giving them more energy and helping their bodies work more effectively.
The most commonly prescribed drug is Levodopa [there are many more but this is the one I have had the most dealings with] and the information I am giving you is based on some of the experiences I have had in my years of nursing.
Most importantly - get the patient onto a well balanced eating plan:
* ensure the patient eats a variety of foods from each food group
* maintain the patients weight with a proper balance of exercise and food
* include the high fiber foods
* watch the protein intake - can affect the medications effectiveness [ask the doctor if you think this needs to be changed]
* use foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol
* limit or avoid sugars [refined or otherwise]
* drink up to 2 liters of water a day [no less than 1 and 1/2 liters]
* limit the salt intake
* alcohol could cause the medication to work ineffectively - limit this beverage as much as possible
* a daily vitamin supplement may also be necessary depending on how well the patient reacts to his/her new eating plan
Pointers in taking the Parkinson's medication
This medicine generally works better on a empty stomach, give it to the patient 30 minutes before their meal where-ever possible [or wait at least 1 hour after a meal]. Ensure that it is taken with a full glass of water as this aids in the absorption of the medication [and assists with the daily water requirement].
This drug can cause nausea on a empty stomach and the doctor could try to control it by combining 2 of the 'dopa' class drugs [levodopa and carbidopa - named Sinemet]. If the nausea continues the patient might have to go on a separate drug to control nausea. I have listed a few tips below to try control this nausea naturally:
* avoid citrus juices - these are acidic and can increase the feeling of nausea
* do not let the patient consume fried, greasy or sweet foods - just typing that line made me slightly nauseous
* let the patient eat smaller amounts with more frequency - this could help as the patient will not feel bloated
* try not to mix hot and cold foods at the same meal - give them a hot pudding with their hot meal etc
* if the smell makes the patient nauseous - feed him or her cold or room temperature food [eliminates the smell of hot food which can be off putting to anyone with nausea]
* try getting the patient to drink between meals rather than with meals
* let them snack on light and bland foods - crackers or plain bread - if they wake up feeling nauseated in the morning [before breakfast]. Sometimes if the patient eats a high protein snack [lean meat or cheese] before going to bed they will not wake up with the nausea
* generally let the patient eat when they are feeling less nauseous [can be hard at times if you are looking after more than one patient]
REMEMBER - always consult the patients doctor before making any major changes to his/her medication or diet.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Brain Pacemaker Reduces Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease - By: Gloria Hao Schneider
Hyderabad is the capital and most populous city of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is known as the city of pearls, lakes and, lately, for its IT companies.
Doctors at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences there are performing an innovative surgical procedure to help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease, or PD, is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions.
PD's symptoms include tremor, stiffness, and slowing of movement caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the mid brain . PD also causes neuropsychiatric disturbances, which include mainly cognition, mood and behavior problems and can be as disabling as motor symptoms.
PD usually affects seniors and older adults in the age group ranging from 55 - 75 years old, but it can also develop in younger people. The disease is progressive, with symptoms becoming more severe over time.
Deep brain stimulation, a complicated surgery also known as the pacemaker for the brain, is fast evolving into a reliable therapy for Parkinson's disease.
A team of neurosurgeons at the institute has managed to achieve an improvement of 80 per cent in the condition of patients crippled by Parkinson's.
The team has conducted close to 90 successful surgeries, helping patients lead a life of independence and dignity. While pacemakers for the brain may not cure Parkinson's, neurologists say the therapy has drastically reduced the symptoms and managed to improve the quality of life.
Deep brain stimulation involves placing electrodes in the 'sub-thalamus' region of the brain. The electrodes are connected to a pacemaker (Implantable Pulse Generator) which sends electrical signals to the brain to stimulate its activity.
The pacemaker is placed just below the collarbone, and runs on a battery, which has a shelf life of five years. Doctors program the pacemaker to deliver appropriate stimulation to the brain.
"We have seen remarkable transformation in patients. Many have gone back to lead their normal lives. The rate of worsening of the disease has reduced," says Rupam Borgohain, Professor of Neurology, who heads the DBS procedure at the NIMS.
If you are searching in the US for suitable living environments for a loved one suffering from dementia, PD or other elderly related diseases, Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800Seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors
searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, visit Hospice Information call 1-800-768-8221.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Surgery For Parkinson’s Disease - By: Mary Brown
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative illness that affects about one percent of men and women over the age of 50. Despite tremendous advances in drugs and techniques to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, not everyone is able to benefit from these improvements. Parkinson’s disease is a highly individualized condition that attacks each patient differently. With the promise of stem cell therapy on the horizon, coupled with the general effectiveness of existing drug treatments, including the commonly-administered levodopa, most Parkinson’s sufferers are able to cope with their disease. There are, however, a number of cases of rapidly-progressing or unusually severe Parkinson’s that necessitate surgery as the best treatment option. Like drug therapy, surgery may decrease the effects of symptoms such as tremors and mobility problems, but is not a cure.
Is surgery for Parkinson’s the best option for you? There is no simple answer. Parkinson’s surgery is brain surgery, which by its very nature is highly risky. There is always the very real potential for permanent brain damage. If, however, all other non-invasive treatment options have been ineffective, doctor and patient may determine that surgery is the best available option to manage the Parkinson’s symptoms.
A pallidotomy may be required for Parkinson’s patients with an especially aggressive case of the disease. It may also be selected for those among the small percentage of patients who do not respond to medication. If the latter is the case, it might be worthwhile to get a second opinion for your Parkinson’s diagnosis before going ahead with surgery. It is worthwhile to note that there are several conditions that have similar characteristics to Parkinson’s but that do not respond to ant-Parkinsonian drugs. During the course of surgery, a small hole will be drilled in the skull and an electric probe inserted. The probe is used to destroy a small part of the portion of the brain known as the global pallidus. Parkinson’s experts think that an overactive global pallidus affects people who suffer from the disease, and that by destroying it, medication-induced rigidity and dyskinesia may be reduced. Pallidotomies have been used since the 1990s. A similar procedure, called a thalamotomy, is used to destroy cells in the thalamus. This surgery can be helpful in treating debilitating hand and arm tremors. A less destructive, but nonetheless risky, surgical option is called deep brain stimulation. In deep brain stimulation an electrode is implanted into the brain. The electrode transmits electrical pulses to stimulate the brain while also blocking the signals that cause Parkinson’s symptoms. Think of it as a sort of pacemaker for the brain. Compared to other surgical options, deep brain stimulation is a relatively new procedure that has been found to be helpful in improving motor function.
Surgery is not the answer for everyone. It is risky and therefore should be used as a last alternative. In addition to the health aspects and risks, prospective Parkinson’s surgical patients may also have to weigh financial considerations when deciding whether or not to have surgery. All of the surgical procedures are costly to administer and may not be covered by all health care insurance plans.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Parkinson’s Disease - By: Groshan Fabiola
Parkinson’s disease is easily noticeable because of its physical manifestations. A problem that develops mostly in elderly people, Parkinson’s is very important to acknowledge so that it can be taken care of at its early stages. Knowing what it is and what the symptoms are will help you to catch it in the beginning and start treatment immediately. Parkinson’s disease results when brain cells deteriorate. It is a chronic condition because it has no cure and does not go away by itself. It is also a degenerative disease, which means that it breaks down the body of the person it attacks. Muscle control is lost due to a lack of dopamine in the brain and, therefore, a difficulty in walking, coordination, and severe shaking develop.
A person with Parkinson’s disease may also notice a change in his or her voice. A person’s voice may become low and monotone, with little or no inflection. Akinesia and bradykinesia may also manifest as trouble executing certain movements, and increased slowness when movements are attempted. Talking more quietly is another affect of the disease, as is difficulty with motor skills. The result is lessened in fine motor skills dexterity and may mean the person with Parkinson’s may require help with everyday tasks such as shaving, tying laces, fastening buttons, and handwriting. Oily skin and dandruff is an affect of seborrheic dermatitis. Therefore, Parkinson’s patients may notice that they have developed greasier skin, especially around the nose and eyebrows, and a greasier scalp. This symptom is often accompanied by increased sweating. Non-specific sensory symptoms include unusual sensory feelings such as numbness, pain, burning sensation, restlessness and fatigue. Lastly, depression and senility, as well
as dementia, are also symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Some of the signs of Parkinson’s to look out for include tremors and trembling. For nearly three quarters of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the appearance of tremors or trembling is the first noticeable symptom. Muscle stiffness is another symptom of the disease. Patients experiencing stiffness or rigidity may not notice any other symptoms of this characteristic. In fact, the person may not even notice the signs of rigidity unless a physician notes it during a physical examination. The presence of physical rigidity, such as decreased arm swing, is especially useful in helping medical personnel establish a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. This may also include ’Freezing’ which is the sudden inability to move when you want to. If a foot on one side starts to drag, and you have difficulty walking through doorways and hallways, you should go to a doctor. Lacking coordination and having difficulty maintaining balance, controlling facial muscles, are causes of akinesia and bradykinesia. These cha
racteristics may manifest themselves in the face, for example, as reduced facial expression, infrequent blinking, and slow swallowing resulting in increased saliva secretion, and occasionally, drooling.
Feeling anxious, angry, discouraged or depressed is common as the brain is undergoing a number of chemical changes. Approximately forty to seventy percent of Parkinson’s sufferers experiences depression at times, while twenty percent of these are a major depressive disorder. Parkinson’s disease is not something to be taken lightly, as it is very serious and can cause permanent problems.
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Diagnosing & Treating Parkinson’s Disease - By: John H. Rogers
Characterized as a movement disorder, Parkinson’s disease often is accompanied by muscle stiffness, a slowing or loss of physical movement, tremor, etc. In addition, Parkinson’s disease may carry symptoms that include mood swings (i.e., depression, anxiety, panic attacks, apathy, etc.), changes in behavior, sensations (i.e., arms, legs, hands, etc.) and the ability to process thoughts. Because each case of Parkinson’s disease is unique to the individual it affects, the symptoms may vary from one person to another.
There are several treatment options available to patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, including medication that may help to ease the symptoms, surgical procedures, a customized diet consisting of nutrition and exercise. Clinical research indicates that nutrients may help to treat Parkinson’s disease and may even help to slow it’s deteriorating effects. Certain types of physical activities, including yoga and dance are believed to be beneficial in helping to maintain mobility and may ease the discomfort associated with muscle stiffness caused by Parkinson’s disease.
Certain types of medication, including those prescribed for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, carry a risk of dangerous side effects. Therefore, it is important for patients to discuss any possible side effects with their physician prior to taking any medication. It is equally important that physicians be made aware of any past or current medical condition from which the patient suffers and/or any medications that they are currently using. At times, one medication can have a negative reaction with another, which is why it is very important that the patient disclose their medical history to the doctor who is treating them for Parkinson’s disease.
To this day, research continues in the fight to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Fundraisers and donations are all a part of what makes medical research possible and what many hope will eventually lead to a cure for this life-altering illness. While Parkinson’s disease may result in the patient becoming more apt to developing other medical conditions, the most common cause of death in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease is believed to be that of pneumonia.
The information in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as, or used in place of, medical advice or professional recommendations for the cause, diagnosis or treatment of Parkinson’s disease. If necessary, individuals should consult a medical doctor for information regarding the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease, a proper diagnosis and/or course of treatment.
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Six Tips for Dealing with Parkinson’s Disease - By: Carlo Morelli
That diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be frightening is certain. It’s a serious malady that, if left unchecked, can end in debilitating changes to one’s body. Nonetheless, advances in medical treatment in combination with some basic lifestyle changes can significantly lessen the impact of Parkinson’s disease.
Your diagnosing physician is always a valuable first resource. He or she can advise someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s about treatments and what to expect physiologicaly. Thanks to increased awareness brought about in part by actor Michael J. Fox’s disclosure that he lives with Parkinson’s and the subsequent creation of his foundation, and also due to new advances in stem cell research and other therapies, a lot of information about Parkinson’s disease is now available to the public.
Many countries have national associations with regional headquarters helping people with Parkinson’s.
Here is a list of six tips that will make living with Parkinson’s disease easier.
1. Exercise: Parkinson’s disease impacts your mobility, so it is important that people with Parkinson’s make certain their bodies are as strong and flexible as possible. Simple activities like stretching, walking, running, and swimming are ideal to build strength. If exercising by yourself doesn’t sound much fun, look into group classes, community walking clubs, or water-aerobics sessions. Many communities have low-cost facilities, equipment, space and instruction where necessary. Special classes which take particular conditions into consideration are also commonly available.
2. Diet: nutritional health is essential for strength and vitality no matter what your health situation. Through eating right, Parkinson’s patients can steady their energy and better control their weight, which can have a big effect on struggling muscles. Check with a physician to establish whether diet could have an adverse effect on medication. Case in point- high-protein foods may interfere with absorption of medications. Keeping a food journal can be an invaluable tool in pinpointing problems with medication.
3. Wardrobe: Parkinson’s reduces motor skills, which can make buttoning of shirts and pants, or doing up a bra difficult. Go for loose (but not flapping) clothing with elastic waists, pull-on shirts and dresses and a minimum of buttons, zippers, hooks and ties, as well as slip-on or Velcro-fastened shoes. This may not be required in the early stages of the disease, but will become important later on.
4. Compensating tactics: strategize about ways to overcome problems associated with Parkinson’s disease, like dropping things. For instance, Parkinson’s patients find they may often drop their wallets when fumbling for change.
To counteract this problem, buy a large wallet that is easy to grip and doesn’t send you digging into deep corners. Using a debit or credit card may be an easier alternative to searching for coins and bills. Another example of a helpful compensating strategy would be to switch from delicate porcelain tableware to more durable shatter-proof or plastic pieces.
5. Take naps: Parkinson’s can interfere with restorative sleep, even though many people who have the disease suffer from fatigue. Take a short nap a couple times a day to keep your energy up.
6. Be understanding: medical treatment and lifestyle changes can do a lot to minimize Parkinson’s symptoms, but it’s likely that people will notice things like tremors or tics at some point. Children, in particular, may ask blunt questions. Try not to be offended, and when possible, use it as a chance to educate about Parkinson’s and its effects.
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Signs of Parkinson's Disease - By: Mike Herman
Parkinson's disease tends to be a very frightening disease to be diagnosed with. Knowing what it is and what the symptoms are will help you to catch it in the early stages and begin treatment right away.
What is Parkinson's Disease?
When brain cells (neurons) deteriorate, Parkinson's disease is the result. It is considered a chronic condition, as opposed to acute, because it has no cure and doesn't go away by itself. It is also a degenerative disease, meaning that it breaks down the body of the person it attacks. Muscle control is lost due to a lack of dopamine in the brain and, because of this, a difficulty in walking, coordination, and severe shaking develop.
Characteristics and Signs of Parkinson's
Some of the signs of Parkinson's to look out for include:
• Tremors or Trembling: for nearly three quarters of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the appearance of tremors or trembling is the first noticeable symptom.
• Muscle stiffness -Parkinson’s patients experiencing stiffness or rigidity may not notice any other symptoms of this characteristic. In fact, the person may not even notice the signs of rigidity unless a physician notes it during a physical examination.
The presence of physical rigidity, such as decreased arm swing, is especially useful in helping medical personnel establish a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
This may also include 'Freezing' which is the sudden inability to move when you want to , a foot on one side starts to drag, and difficulty walking through doorways and hallways.
• Lacking coordination
• Difficulty maintaining balance
• Difficulty controlling facial muscles - Akinesia and bradykinesia - these characteristics may manifest themselves in the face, for example, as reduced facial expression, infrequent blinking, and slow swallowing resulting in increased saliva secretion, and occasionally, drooling.
A person with Parkinson’s disease may also notice a change in his or her voice: it may become low and monotone, with little or no inflection. Akinesia and bradykinesia may also appear as trouble executing certain movements, and increased slowness when movements are attempted or executed.
• Talking more quietly
• Raspy voice
• Difficulty with motor skills - The result is lessened in fine motor skills dexterity and may mean the person with Parkinson’s may require help with everyday tasks such as shaving, tying laces, fastening buttons, and handwriting.
• Oily skin and dandruff - Seborrheic dermatitis: Parkinson’s patients may notice that they have developed greasier skin, especially around the nose and eyebrows, and a greasier scalp. This symptom is usually accompanied by increased sweating.
• Non-specific sensory symptoms - Unusual sensory feelings such as numbness, pain, burning sensation, restlessness and fatigue can also be indicators of Parkinson’s disease.
• Depression and senility, as well as dementia, are secondary symptoms of Parkinson's.
Feeling anxious, angry, discouraged or downright depressed is common as the brain is undergoing a number of chemical changes. Approximately 40-70 percent of Parkinson’s sufferers experience depression at times, while 20 percent of these are considered a major depressive disorder.
Anxiety or panic attacks are common psychological elements of the disease as well. An average of 70 percent of people who have pre-existing depression also develop anxiety whereas 90 percent who first experience anxiety fall victim to depression.
Dementia is evidenced in 20-30 percent of sufferers and this gradual decline first starts with slowness in thought and advances to a difficulty in properly organizing thoughts.
In most cases, only one side of the body will be affected in the early stages of the disease, and the hands and feet are the most likely area where tremors will first be noticed.
One symptom does not mean that you have Parkinson's. It usually arrives in the form of a combination of symptoms over a prolonged period.
If you have concerns, consult your doctor.
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Parkinson's Disease - Things to Consider - By: Mike Herman
Being faced with the diagnosis of Parkinson's or any other disease is a frightening, but don't allow that initially felt fear, confusion, or even denial to cloud your judgment.
Doctor's are great at diagnosing diseases, but they 100's of patients and together with all of the paperwork and insurance headache, they tend to not personally get involved with each patient.
Meaning that you need to be the "captain of your own ship". You need to consider a number of things, such as:
Finding the "right" doctor, or doctors, for you. Develop a team of doctors, therapist, etc., that you trust and enjoy speaking with.
Join a support group near you and be on the look out for forums on the Internet where you can "chat" with others similarly affected so as to learn about solutions to problems and new treatments that you and your doctor may not be aware of.
All of the questions and thoughts to consider here are for you to ask yourself, your doctor(s), and other Parkinson's patients who you get to know via support groups and/or Internet forums.
* Why did I get this disease?
Might have been a genetic predisposition for them to develop it or environmental factors that played a role, such as where they lived or elements of their workplace.
Or were lifestyle choices such as diet, personal habits and/or exercise to blame?
* What treatments are available?
If the symptoms are mild some doctors may prescribe nothing more than change in diet or suggest including more exercise into the patient's day-to-day routine.
For symptoms to are more severe the doctor may prescribe medication. Levadopa (Sinemet ® ) is the most common, but newer drugs, Requip ® and Mirapex ® are being prescribed now days too. However medications don't always have the same effect on patients, so while on drug may help one person considerably, it may not work for someone else.
In some cases, usually the severest, surgery is the best option.
* Along with the benefits of the medications, don't forget the potential side effects.
Parkinson's' sufferers are often going through enough discomfort so you must make sure that you are aware of and prepared for any potential side effects of a medicine.
* Not all Parkinson patient are the same in the symptoms they suffer and some respond to medicines and other treatments differently.
What are the short and long term benefits of each treatment, is there anything that can be done to decrease the potential side effects of the treatment (particularly medicines)?
Don't just "sit back" and let your doctor decide everything, ask questions of your doctor but also be willing to allow yourself to accept what your doctor is recommending.
* Look at Yahoo, Healthboards.com, and BrainTalk Communities which are my favorite forums.
You can ask other members if there any alternative and/or non-drug related options that could help your condition?
You may find that some of the members have made modifications to their lifestyles (i.e. diet, exercise, reducing stress levels, etc.) that are helping them physically and emotionally to cope better with the progression of the disease.
Are there particular foods, drinks, over the counter medications and/or vitamin supplements that I should stay away from or look into?
Your health is not as it once was, even the "common" colds aren't so "common" any longer.
* You don't want any adverse drug reaction when your treatment and medications begin, be very careful about what you do and don't put into your body, especially supplements and other not so common over the counter vitamins and medications. Be sure to speak with your pharmacist.
* Can your doctor, your support group, or the Internet forum members recommend any non-traditional (or naturopathic) techniques for relaxation and reducing stress levels?
Look at city services, the local junior college for classes in yoga, meditation, reflexology, massage, deep breathing, etc.
The local support group may be aware of classes that would be of help to you.
* Are there any trials or clinical studies that you can be a part of?
If the idea interest you be sure to speak with your doctor, your support group and be on the look out, via the Internet, yourself.
Clinical studies need willing participants and these studies occasionally have very good results for the participants.
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