What is osteoporosis? In osteopor...

What is osteoporosis?

In osteoporosis (say "os-tee-oh-por-oh-sis"), the inside of the bone becomes weak because of a los of calcium. This is called losing bone mass. Bone weakness makes your bone more likely to break.

Osteoporosis is a great deal of more common in women than it is in men This is because women have les bone mass than men they mind to live longer and take in les calcium, and they ne the female hormone estrogen to withhold their bones strong. If men live extended enough, they also are at risk of getting osteoporosis.

one time total bone mass has peaked in a person's late 20 or early 30 he or she starts to fail to obtain bone mass. In women, the rate of bone los thrives up after menopause, when estrogen horizontals go down. Because the ovaries make estrogen bone los also may appear if both ovaries are remov according to surgery.

What are the signs of osteoporosis?

You may not know you have osteoporosis until you have serious signs. These signs include rent bones, low back pain, or a hunched back. You also may win shorter over time because osteoporosis can make the bone in your spine push together. These vexed questions tend to occur after a fate of bone calcium has already been lost

Am I at risk for osteoporosis?

Below is a list of things that set you at risk for osteoporosis. The more of these risk factors that apply to you, the higher your risk is. Talk to your family doctor about your risk factors.

* Menopause before age 48

* Surgery to carry ovaries before menopause

* Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet

* Not getting enough exercise

* Smoking

* Osteoporosis in your family

* Alcohol abuse

* Thin carcass and small bone frame

* Fair skin (white or Asian race)

* Hyperthyroidism

* Long-term use of oral steroids

* Prior bone fracture as an adult

Should I have a bone density test?

Check with your doctor. Women generally should be guarded for osteoporosis starting at age 65 If a woman has several risk factors for osteoporosis, her doctor may make acceptable starting screening earlier. Some men should be checked for osteoporosis. Screening is usually done with a bone density trial called a DEXA (dual spirit x-ray absorptiometry) scan, which takes a "picture" of the bone The DEXA scan can display thinning of the bones (osteopenia) as well as osteoporosis.

to what degree much calcium and vitamin D do I ne to help detain my bones strong?

You ne about 1000 mg of calcium a day before menopause and after menopause if you are taking estrogen You ne about 1500 mg of calcium a day after menopause if you are not taking estrogen

Nonfat and low-fat dairy harvests are good sources of calcium. Other sources of calcium include dried beans, sardines, and broccoli, as well as juices and cereals that have added calcium.

Your doctor may prompt that you take calcium in the form of a pill if you are not getting enough in your diet. Read the label onward the bottle carefully to papal court how much calcium is in each pill. Take your calcium pill at mealtime or with near milk.

Vitamin D helps the visible form [i]or[/i] frame absorb calcium. Vitamin D is made in your skin when you are in direct sunlight, and it is also in fortified milk, urge yolks, some fish and fish oils, and liver. Your material part needs 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D by day. You may need to take a pill if you are not getting enough vitamin D in your diet or if you are not in the day-star much.

What medicines are there for osteoporosis?

In addition to a eating a dutiful diet, exercising, and quitting smoking if you are a smoker there are several medicines your doctor can prescribe if your bone scan exhibits you have osteoporosis. These medicines include the following:

* Calcitonin. Calcitonin (some brand names: Calcimar, Miacalcin) is a hormone that helps preclude further bone loss and bring tos the pain that some race have with osteoporosis.

* Alendronate and risedronate. Alendronate (brand name: Fosamax) and risedronate (brand name: Actonel) are not hormones, yet they are used to resolve into the risk of spine fractures by means of decreasing the rate of bone loss

* Raloxifene. Raloxifene (brand name: Evista) is a medicine used to intercept and treat osteoporosis by increasing bone density. It is not a hormone, yet it has some of the dutiful effects of estrogen.

* Teriparatide. Teriparatide (brand name: Forteo) is a synthetic hormone taken on injection (a shot) once a day. It causes modern bone growth.

What about hormone therapy?

Hormone therapy is another way to impede osteoporosis or keep it from getting worse. In this kind of therapy, you take female hormones (estrogen and progestin) to stop the very little in these hormones that happens at menopause or after the ovaries are remov through surgery.

Estrogen hold fasts your bones from losing calcium, helps your bone stay brawny and helps prevent broken bones

Taking estrogen also can help one of the symptoms of menopause, similar as hot flashes and vaginal drynes a certain number of studies also have shown that hormone therapy may decrease your risk of getting certain representations of cancer.

Risks of hormone therapy include heart disease, hardships blood clots, and breast cancer. You ne to discuss your health history and your family's health history with your doctor to decide whether your risks from osteoporosis outweigh the risks of hormone therapy.