Are you looking for easy ways to reduce the risk of osteoporosis? If yes, you are at the right place. As you know, bone health is essential because it plays a vital role in your body, helps you to move, and protects your sensitive organs from an injury like the heart, brain, etc. But due to hectic routines, people don't pay much attention to bone health, dont get calcium and vitamin D food. According to a recent survey by International Osteoporosis International, about 51% of people in the UK never discussed their bone health with health experts.
Additionally, another report showed that about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. So, the big question is: How can we reduce the risk of osteoporosis? Let me tell you there are many ways, but before adopting any way to stop osteoporosis, you have to know what it is, its causes, treatment, prevention methods, etc. Keep reading.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis
is a condition that affects the bone and makes it thin and weakens with time.
Osteoporosis is a common disease in the United Kingdom, and it is named from
the Latin for "porous bones."
Additionally,
Bones are regenerative tissues that regenerate themselves, but sometimes, it
doesn't go well; they generate more bones, which leads to osteoporosis. The
bones have small air spaces inside like honeycomb, but these space sizes
increase bone loss strength and density due to osteoporosis. Because of
osteoporosis fractures, bone breaks happen in people during daily activities.
Symptoms of osteoporosis
In its
early stages, osteoporosis does not have visible symptoms, which is why most
people remain unaware of its conditions until they have a fracture.
A few
symptoms you may notice after getting osteoporosis are
If symptoms do appear, some of the earlier ones may
include:
●
Receding gums
●
Weakened grip strength
●
Lower back pain
●
Weak and brittle nails
●
Height loss
● A curved shape spine
● Sudden breakage of bone
Causes of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
caused by low level of calcium in bone loss and your bone loses density; this
bone loss can happen for different reasons, such
●
Excessive use of steroids
Orally
taken steroids are not healthy for bone, but for treating different medical
conditions, these health experts prescribe the use of steroids for inflammatory
conditions and rheumatoid arthritis. When you take such steroids, the calcium
absorption levels go down in your gut, and the amount of calcium is lost
through the kidneys. Due to this calcium loss, inner bone space size increases,
and bones become weak. Additionally, these steroids affect the production of
bones cause, instant bone loss, and people experience osteoporosis.
●
Low estrogen level
Another
reason for osteoporosis is low estrogen levels in the body, and it only happens
in women above 45 rights after early menopause. If your estrogen level is low,
it could be a reason for osteoporosis. Do you know the reason? No? Let me tell
you: When estrogen levels go down in your body, it will indirectly seep up into
the bone loss process.
●
Lack of weight exercises
Weight
exercises help in bone development.
If you don't exercise, you will lose calcium from your body more often, which
can lead to osteoporosis. Additionally, muscle and bone health are linked, so
it is important to keep your muscles healthy, which reduces the risk of bone
breakdown.
●
Poor diet
Poor diet
is also another cause of osteoporosis. A diet that is not balanced or low in
calcium and vitamin D increases the risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, being
underweight can cause osteoporosis.
●
Smoking
Smoking is
not healthy at all, and heavy
Smoking is directly toxic to bones. When
you inhale tobacco, nicotine enters your body and slows down the production of
bone-forming cells, so your body makes fewer bones.
In
addition, Smoking decreases calcium absorption from the diet, which is
necessary for bone mineralization. Because smokers have fewer bone minerals,
they develop fragile bones.
●
Heavy drinking
Consumption
of alcohol lowers the ability of your body to make bones. It also increases the
risk of breaking a bone due to a fall.
How to diagnose
osteoporosis?
Diagnosing
osteoporosis with bone density tests, DEXA
scans, or DXA scans is easy. Usually, healthcare experts perform this test
on you to check the strength of your bones. While testing, x-rays measure how
much minerals and calcium are in your bones. A healthcare provider will diagnose osteoporosis with a bone density test. A bone density test is an imaging test that
measures the strength of your bones. It uses X-rays to measure how much calcium
and other minerals are in your bones.
Treatment and management of osteoporosis
There are
few treatment options available for osteoporosis that works to lower the
symptoms of osteoporosis but gradually. There are different medical treatment
options available for osteoporosis. The first and most common method is hormone
therapies like replacement estrogen or testosterone and bisphosphonates. Moreover, People with osteoporosis need
medications, including parathyroid hormone (PTH) analogs, denosumab, and romosozumab.
Here are
some ways to manage osteoporosis, such
●
Exercise
Exercise can help you get rid of osteoporosis
because exercises like weight-bearing workouts help to strengthen your muscles
and bones. A study revealed that regular exercises like walking, yoga, Pilates,
and tai chi can improve bone strength. So, if you are diagnosed with
osteoporosis, do these exercises.
●
Vitamin and mineral supplements
As you
know shortage of vitamins and mineral in food cause osteoporosis so if you
maintain your vitamin and mineral level in body you can get rid of
osteoporosis. for this use calcium or vitamin D supplements.
How to Prevent Osteoporosis?
●
Take calcium-rich foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains
●
Get enough vitamin D
●
quit Smoking
●
Avoid alcohol consumption
●
Do weight-bearing exercises
Conclusion
Osteoporosis
is a common disease in which the patient's bones become thin and easily
breakable. It affects millions of people each year, but few treatment options
are available. The causes of osteoporosis include poor diet, low estrogen
level, excessive use of steroids, drinking, and Smoking. But you don't have to
worry; you can easily manage the symptoms of osteoporosis by exercising, eating
a balanced diet, taking vitamins and mineral supplements.
If you
think you have symptoms like osteoporosis, go for a diagnosis and follow the
treatment mentioned above option to live an active life.