Summary
Over
the last few weeks we have looked as some of the myths and truths about
osteoporosis; some of the questions about bone health; and how treatments can
help reduce the loss of bone.
Although
osteoporosis primarily affects men and women of advancing age, it can strike
younger people as well. Juvenile
Osteoporosis is most commonly a result from a primary condition such as
Osteogenesis imperfecta, cystic fibrosis, Leukemia, anorexia nervosa, among
others. Bone loss for people over 50
years old can be caused by some medications, but usually from a lack of daily
calcium.
The
National Osteoporosis Foundation (n.d.) has much information about bone
disease. A good place to start is the
myths or misconceptions people have about osteoporosis. One myth is that most people do not need to
worry about bone loss. This is false. According to the NOF “about one in two
women and up to one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to
osteoporosis; by 2020, half of all Americans over age 50 are expected to have
low bone density or osteoporosis” (para 1).
Bone
mass peaks at about age thirty for most women. It is expected for women to
begin loosing small amounts of bone mass as they age and enter menopause.
Menopause at an early age can cause this process to accelerate. Medications for menopause can help with
symptoms of hot flashes and bone loss, among the other symptoms that may be
experienced. Medications may not be the best solution for all women or for all
levels of bone loss. There are medications available to slow the progression
and in some cases reverse bone loss. Their use can have a cost in side effects
some of which are cancer, severe bone lost in the jaw, heart attack, skin
conditions, and minor to severe allergic reactions. Although, many of these are considered rare,
they are listed as a possibility and must be considered.
Medications
are not the only way to stall the onset or even diminish the effects of
osteoporosis. Other treatments include weight-bearing exercises and a well
balanced diet including calcium and vitamin D.
Weight bearing exercise causes bone to work under a stress resulting in
denser bone. Exercises that would be
best include “weight-lifting, jogging, hiking, stair-climbing, step aerobics,
dancing, racquet sports, and other activities that require your muscles to work
against gravity” University of Arizona [U of A], 2010, (para. 1). Participating in any activities outside in the
sunshine is a good way to get the vitamin D needed to use the calcium for your
bones. Diet should be a balanced one and include foods rich in calcium. There are many foods that naturally contain
calcium such as dairy products. Foods
enriched with calcium are also good. Examples
of foods rich in calcium other than dairy are broccoli, cereals, nuts, and
oranges. Diet and exercise are excellent ways to maintain and even increase
bone mass and slow osteoporosis.
As
with any health condition, healthcare providers do not know everything about
osteoporosis or its treatment. Some
treatments work well for some but not everyone.
The reasons why are not fully understood. How medications interact with foods and other
medications can be dangerous. This leads
to a statement of caution; always discuss with your physician any change in
exercise or diet and any new treatment regimes you are starting. The following websites
were found to be very informative and are a good source of information to help
you form the questions you should take to your doctor.
National Osteoporosis
Foundation at www.nof.org
2004 Surgeon General’s
report http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/bonehealth/OsteoBrochure1mar05.pdf
National Institutes of
Health. Osteoporosis Resources Center. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/listPagefamily.asp
Exercise:
National Center for
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. (Tai
Chi exercise) http://nccam.nih.gov/health/taichi/introduction.htm
Arthritis Today:
Two-Minute Moves for Pain Relief
Diet:
WebMD. Osteoporosis
Diet Dangers: Foods to Avoid. http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/living-with-osteoporosis-7/diet-dangers
USDA Foods (calcium
rich) http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR17/wtrank/sr17a301.pdf
Resources
National
Osteoporosis Foundation [NOF]. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.nof.org/articles/4
University
of Arizona [U of A]. (2010). Bone builders: Exercise. Retrieved from http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/fcs/bb/exercise.html
