Osteoporosis is a disease that thins the bones and can lead to fractures. Both men and women can get osteoporosis as they get older and hormone levels change. It is not a natural part of aging and sometimes younger people can also be exposed.
Often it hits after menopause because the body stops producing oestrogen which protects the bones. Other reasons people can be at risk are because they have not taken enough calcium throughout their life, smoke too much, have a vitamin D deficiency (lack of sun), have absent menstrual periods (amenorrhea), have been on long term medication for thyroid problems, rheumatoid arthritis, drink too much, are too thin or have a family history of the illness.
It is important if you have Osteoporosis to make your home safe so that you don’t fall over and incur fractures. Ensure lighting is good both inside and out, take care getting in and out of the shower, don’t have things lying around on the floor to trip over such as cords or rugs on slippery floors.
It might also be a good idea to give up smoking and cut down on drinking, maintain a sensible body weight and don’t lose weight too quickly as it can contribute to bone loss.
As people get older and their bones thin with the disease the risk of a hip fracture increases and often there are no symptoms. Some people don’t even know until they have a small accident and damage themselves. They then experience the pain of a fracture or a collapsed vertebrae and even their height can decrease.
Ways to protect the body are through regular exercise, checkups and a healthy diet with a few added supplements. It is important to have a minimum of 30 minutes exercise daily. Best ones are weight-bearing exercises – ones that put weight on your skeleton as they will also improve your strength and balance and decrease the risk of falling. Walking, jogging, dancing, yoga, and strength training are good.
It is also important to have a healthy diet rich in Calcium and vitamin D. A daily multivitamin is good to take for the calcium as too much milk and cheese is not good for the sinuses but you can get stuck into leafy green vegetables, soybeans, sardines and salmon. It is also important to expose your body to the sun for a few minutes every day to make sure you get enough vitamin D. Check with your natural therapist as to the correct quantities of vitamins to keep up your levels.
It is a good idea to have a bone density test especially if you have had broken bones or back pain in the past. Also check your medications and the effects they have on your bone density. Some people’s bones weaken faster than others in a short period of time after their hormones stop producing as much and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) does not take out the risk factor of contracting the disease. When women stop taking HRT, they experience as much bone loss as they would have lost at menopause which is why it is a good idea to have a bone density test at menopause and another at ceasing HRT.
If diagnosed in time, doctors can treat you for osteoporosis with drugs to help prevent bone loss and rebuild bone before too much damage occurs. Health risks associated with HRT can mean it is not safe to take oestrogen as a treatment for osteoporosis but there are a number of supplements in combination with a healthy diet that will help. Remember though that healthy bones are something that needs to be attended to throughout your whole life and taking your natural supplements can prevent a lot of other illnesses also.
