Bare Bone Facts About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a very common disease, yet there are many questions surrounding it. This is a debilitating disease affecting the bones of mostly adult patients. There is currently no medical cure for osteoporosis, yet diet and lifestyle choices can help prevent the onset of the condition.

As one of the most commonly-occurring types of arthritis, osteoporosis develops when too much calcium is lost from the bones. With this excessive loss of calcium, the degree of bone density is affected. Osteoporosis can cause bones to become fragile and brittle, and the risk of bone fractures is substantially increased. More women than men suffer with calcium loss to the degree that results in decreased bone density and osteoporosis.

Prevention of osteoporosis, like many medical conditions, is the key to staying disease-free. If you, like many adults, are at risk of developing osteoporosis, consider consuming a diet high in calcium. Most health professionals and dieticians recommend that you include about 1500 mg of calcium in your diet, every day. Milk, dairy-based foods, salmon, sardines and other fish are all great choices for providing a natural calcium boost.

Speak with your doctor about supplementing your diet with calcium and, possibly, vitamin D. Your doctor or dietician may suggest that you supplement your diet with additional Vitamin D to aid in absorbing this extra calcium. Natural sunlight provides a great source of Vitamin D, so you can absorb this important element simply by spending more time in the sun.

If you choose to take an over-the-counter supplement, you may be able to achieve the required levels of Vitamin D and calcium with just one multivitamin. Speak with your doctor to be sure that you are getting all of the nutrients you need to prevent osteoporosis. He or she can assess your condition and suggest the appropriate level of required supplements.

Doctors suggest that women who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis may find estrogen treatment to be a viable option. This form of therapy can help to increase bone mass and density in the spine and hips, and may actually cut a woman's risk of developing osteoporosis. Estrogen replacement therapy has also been shown to reduce the risk of heart failure and heart attacks. There are certain side effects, though, that must be acknowledged, including a possible link to breast cancer that has been suggested by certain studies.

Doctors advise adults who drink or smoke to limit these activities as much as possible. Research has shown that smoking will lower the levels of estrogen, leaving the bones at greater risk for losing mass. Moderate to heavy alcohol use has also been directly linked to an increased loss of bone density.

Another important preventive step is to make sure you're getting enough regular exercise. Improving muscle strength through weight-bearing exercise can help to build essential bone mass. Walking is another great choice to help prevent osteoporosis, and to boost your overall good health.

Individuals suffering from osteoporosis have other treatment options to consider. Prescription drug medications are available to help restore bone density and slow the progress of the condition, and new drug therapies are currently in development. It's important to have a professional health assessment and understand all of your treatment options, before deciding on the method of therapy that's best for you.

Speak with your doctor if you think you may be at risk of developing osteoporosis, or believe that you have the condition. Learn about the steps that you can take to prevent the onset of osteoporosis, and get more facts about treatment options. The fact is, you can live more comfortably with osteoporosis.

Article Source: Main Articles

Contributor Varian Sperks is a columnist for a variety of Internet sites, on healthy body and health diet fitness subjects.

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