OSTEOPOROSIS

OSTEOPOROSIS

The onset of menopause hastens the normal bone thinning process of aging because the ovaries stop producing the female hormone estrogen, which helps to retain bone mass. Bone brittleness and weakness make you especially prone to fractures of the spine, hip, wrist, and other bones.

Underweight Caucasian women over 50 who smoke and exercise seldom or not at all face the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis. If you have a diet lacking in calcium for a period of years, your chances of developing this disease increase.

ORTHODOX MEDICINE

 Physician commonly recommend calcium supplements. Estrogen - replacement therapy is often prescribed for post- menopausal women. Some physicians and nutritionists suggest a high calcium diet that omits alcohol.

COMMONSENSE CARE

To prevent osteoporosis or slow its progression, you should pay attention to what you eat and exercise regularly. Make sure that your diet includes plenty of dairy products, green leafy vegetables, shellfish, and other calcium sources. Do not eat excessive amounts of chard and spinach, however. They are high in oxalic acid, a substance that hinders calcium absorption.

Weight -bearing exercise such as running, brisk walking, and rope jumping can help counteract the loss of bone mass if you exercise at least three times weekly. Try to get out in the sun regularly; your skin absorbs the sun's ultraviolet rays,  which the body can convert to vitamin D, an important catalyst in the absorption of calcium. Stop smoking., if you have not already stopped; smoking may reduce estrogen levels. Anyone who develops osteoporosis should take extra care to avoid falls, which can cause already weakened, brittle bones to fracture or break relatively easily. This may mean covering wood floors with carpeting, providing adequate lighting in halls and at staircases, and handrails to bathtubs and shower stalls. 

NATURAL MEDICINE

- NATUROPATHY: A low- protein diet, with an emphasis on foods high in calcium, phosphorus , magnesium and vitamin A, and D. A practitioner can suggest a series of weight - bearing exercises.

- VITAMIN AND MINERAL THERAPY: Calcium and vitamin D  tablets are often recommended.  Folic acid, vitamin K, and manganese, silicon, boron, and magnesium may contribute to maintaining bone mass, and supplements may be suggested for postmenopausal women.

- YOGA: Some practitioners believe that more efficient breathing can provide relief for those with osteoporosis. Diaphragmatic breathing may aid the body as it copes with changing bone structure. Relaxation techniques may also prove useful.