Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones are more prone to fracture because of reduction in Bone Mineral Density (BMD). According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation “One in two women and one in eight men over 50 will have an osteoporosis related fracture in their lifetime.” Among them the majority is - fracture of the spine and hip- patients. Sometimes lead to death of the sufferer within 6 months from conditions caused by lack of activity such as blood clots and pneumonia.
Constant state of loss and re-growth of bones is a continuous process throughout the life. The loss process accelerates as we grow old. And a point comes where re-growth cannot keep up and osteoporosis may develop. Osteoporosis causes the bones to become thin and fragile, increasing the chance of breaking with even minor injury.
As women attain old age, the estrogen levels decrease and the risk of osteoporosis increases.
Are You at Risk for Osteoporosis?
According to the studies and the medical scientists there are number of factors that appear to increase the risk of osteoporosis. People who are at risk of osteoporosis are
• Females;
• Thin and small-boned;
• Having a family history of the disease;
• Caucasian or Asian;
• Intakes few or no dairy foods;
• Do not exercise regularly;
• Smokers;
• Drink more than two or three alcoholic drinks per day;
• Drink more than six strong cups of tea or coffee per day;
• Suffer from irregular periods;
• Early menopause;
• Post-menopausal; or
• Intake medication that limits calcium absorption

Why women are at more risk
Normally a woman experience menopause at about 45 years of age because the secretion of the sex hormone, estrogen, by the ovaries gradually declines. This causes the gradual cessation of menstruation.
Estrogen plays a key role in maintaining bone mass by slowing the process of bone breakdown. As estrogen levels fall, bone breakdown process accelerates.
The decline in estrogen levels due to menopause is the main reason that more women than men suffer from osteoporosis. But menopause is not the only reason: women may also suffer a decline in estrogen levels if their ovaries have been surgically removed at a stage called hysterectomy, or through severe dieting or excessive exercise.

Preventing Osteoporosis
Here the idiom “Prevention is better then cures” justifies as it is hard to replace bone that is lost. Living with a resolution of exercising and eating healthy nutrition lifelong, while you are at young age, reduces your risk of developing this condition later in life.
Exercise increases bone mass before menopause and helps to reduce bone loss after menopause. Regular exercise increases bone strength. To prevent bone loss do the helpful exercises such as walking, low-impact aerobics, tennis, cycling etc.
Ensure recommended amount of calcium to be taken regularly. Good sources of calcium include dairy products, leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seafood, taking a calcium supplement is often advisable. The best form of calcium for preventing bone loss is calcium carbonate. If you choose to use calcium supplements, it's important that you understand that the body can only absorb up to 500 mg of calcium at one time, so you will need to divide your dose if the amount of calcium supplement you take exceeds that amount.
Milk that contains of calcium and vitamin D is the best source as vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium. Sunlight also is an excellent source of vitamin D. Normally exposure to sunlight for only 15 minutes is sufficient for the body to take vitamin D.
Regular exercise, balanced diet, avoiding smoking and alcohols are the minor changes in the life style which lead to prevention of osteoporosis. Since it a desease which has no cure taking these precautions are meaningful and should be taken to live a comfortable life at older age.
All the best