3 Interesting Facts About Osteoporosis
Eating well, exercising, and seeing your doctor regularly is helpful if you want to live a healthy lifestyle. However, certain conditions may develop even when following your doctor's suggestions for good health. Even though it affects an estimated 75 million people in the United States, Europe, and Japan, most people do not fully understand osteoporosis. With this guide, you will learn a few interesting facts about osteoporosis.
1. Causes Vary
Narrowing down one specific cause of osteoporosis can be challenging since there are many factors that come into play. In most cases, the condition is caused by the natural aging process.
As your body ages, bones will age and break down. When you are younger, bone mass is capable of regrowth. However, once you are in your 30s or 40s, the bone mass and density are unable to regrow, leading to the bone loss associated with osteoporosis.
If you have started menopause, you will also be at risk of developing osteoporosis. The hormonal imbalances that occur during menopause decrease bone mass and density, leading to the loss of bone.
Certain medications can also increase your risk of osteoporosis. If you are taking thyroid medications or undergoing steroid injections for pain and inflammation, there is a higher risk of losing bone mass.
Signs Vary
Unfortunately, the majority of people living with osteoporosis do not even realize they have the disorder until they fracture one or more of their bones. Once a bone is fractured, an x-ray will be able to see the decreased bone mass, which will alert your doctor to conduct more tests to determine if you have osteoporosis.
Here are a few other signs of the disorder that you may experience:
- Change in posture/stooping over
- Loss of height
- Back pain and discomfort
If you are experiencing one or more of the above symptoms, consult your doctor for further testing.
Treatment is Available
There are different treatment options available, each offering their own pros and cons.
Your doctor may first suggest changing your diet to include calcium-rich foods, which are imperative for your bone health. Non-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, broccoli, cauliflower, salmon, and green, leafy vegetables are all foods rich in calcium. Adding a calcium supplement to your daily regimen is also beneficial.
Medications may also be prescribed by your doctor. To slow down the loss of bone, reduce the risk of fractures, and improve your overall health and well-being, your doctor will most likely prescribe bisphosphonates.
Living with osteoporosis is possible, but a proper understanding is essential. This guide will give you a few important facts that you need to know regarding this common disorder. To learn more, contact a company like Radius.