“OSTEOPOROSIS”
literally means “porous bone.” It is called a silent disease because
there are often no symptoms of bone loss until the bones become so weak
that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture. Such fractures
are typically of the hip, ribs, vertebras, or wrist. People tend to
associate osteoporosis with frail, elderly women.
A Serious Health Threat
The
International Osteoporosis Foundation reports that “in the European
Union, someone has a fracture as a result of osteoporosis every 30
seconds.” In the United States, 10 million people have osteoporosis, and
another 34 million are at risk because of low bone mass. Furthermore,
the U.S. National Institutes of Health reports that “one out of every
two women and one in four men age 50 and over will have an
osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.” And the outlook is not
improving.
The Bulletin of the World Health Organization states that the number of fractures resulting from osteoporosis is expected to double worldwide over the next 50 years. This projection
is likely based on the expected increase in the elderly population.
Still, the consequences are frightening. Osteoporosis has a high rate of
disability, even mortality. Almost 25 percent of patients aged 50 or
older who suffer hip fractures die as a result of medical complications
within the year following the fracture.
Are You at Risk?
Recent
studies reveal that heredity is a significant risk factor. When parents
have a history of hip fracture, the risk of this type of fracture
occurring in their children may even double. Another risk factor is
malnutrition of a fetus, which results in lower bone density in
childhood. Then there is the age factor. The older people get, the more
fragile their bones generally become. Certain medical conditions, such
as Cushing’s disease, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism, can also contribute
to the development of osteoporosis.
Menopause
in women results in a reduction of estrogens that protect bone mass.
This is the reason why nearly four times more women suffer from
osteoporosis than men. Estrogen deficiency brought on by the surgical
removal of a woman’s ovaries can result in early menopause.
Risk
factors for osteoporosis that an individual can change include eating
habits and lifestyle. A diet low in calcium and vitamin D is a
contributing factor to bone deterioration. An excessive consumption of
salt may increase risk, since it increases the body’s excretion of
calcium. Excessive consumption of alcohol, which is often accompanied by
poor nutrition, also contributes to bone loss.
As
mentioned at the outset, Anna suffered from osteoporosis as a
consequence of an eating disorder. That disorder had led to nutritional
deficiencies, low body weight, and even an absence of menstruation. As a
result, her body had stopped producing estrogens, leading to the
weakening of her bones.
An
additional factor for developing osteoporosis is a lifestyle of limited
physical activity. Smoking too is a significant risk factor, since it
can decrease bone mineral density. According to the World Health
Organization, about 1 in 8 hip fractures is attributable to smoking.
However, studies reveal that when a person stops smoking, bone loss and
the risk of suffering a fracture decrease.
Prevention of Osteoporosis
The
foundation for preventing osteoporosis is laid in childhood and
adolescence. That is when 90 percent of a person’s total bone mass is
reached. Calcium, an essential nutrient for a strong skeletal structure,
is stored primarily in the bones. Some of the principal sources of
calcium are milk and dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese; canned
sardines and salmon (eaten with the bones); almonds; oatmeal; sesame
seeds; tofu; and dark-green leafy vegetables.
In
order for calcium to be absorbed by the body, vitamin D is essential.
This vitamin is synthesized in the skin by exposure to sunlight. Manuel
Mirassou Ortega, a doctor of internal medicine and member of the Mexican
Bone and Mineral Metabolism Association, explained: “Sunbathing for ten
minutes a day contributes to preventing the development of
osteoporosis, as it provides some 600 units of vitamin D.” This vitamin
can also be found in such foods as egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver.
The
importance of exercise in preventing osteoporosis can hardly be
overemphasized. During childhood and adolescence, exercise helps to
increase bone mass, and in old age it helps to prevent loss of bone
mass. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises—those in which muscles
work against gravity or other forces without overstressing the bones and
joints—are recommended the most. Walking, climbing stairs, and even
dancing are simple but effective weight-bearing exercises. *
Prevention
can certainly do much to combat this silent disease. As we have seen,
this may include adjusting one’s diet and lifestyle to preserve bone
mass and to increase bone strength. It is true that for most people who
have fallen into a sedentary lifestyle, such a way of life may be very
difficult to change. But what benefits come to those who make the effort
to do so! Among other things, they may avoid being one of the many
millions worldwide who suffer from osteoporosis.
Extreme exercise, to the point of cessation of menstrual periods in
women, can lead to brittle bones from estrogen deficiency. It is
recommended that women over 65 have bone-density testing to determine
the presence and severity of bone loss. If bone loss is severe,
medicines may be available to prevent and treat osteoporosis. However,
both risks and benefits should be considered before treatment is begun.
Prevention may include adjusting one’s diet and lifestyle to preserve bone mass and increase bone strength
Osteoporosis is a bone condition characterized by low bone density and
deterioration of bone strength, leading to bone fragility and
susceptibility to fracture. It can be diagnosed by means of a low
radiation scan, which measures bone mineral density.
Weight-bearing and resistance exercises help to prevent loss of bone mass
Almonds and dairy products are excellent sources of calcium