Justin
MJ Health & Beauty
Joined: 01-October-2003
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| Posted: 17-February-2005 at 11:41am | IP Logged
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Click here for a list of osteoporosis supplements available from MJ Health & Beauty.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is the term given to a progressive degeneration of the structure, density and strength of the bone due to a lack of calcium.
Osteoporosis literally means eporous bonesf. Over time, bones have less available calcium and become brittle, fragile and tend to break easily. Any bone of our body is at risk, though most breakages occur in the hip, spine, ribs and forearm, often from an incident as simple as bumping a wall or tripping over a floor rug.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include:
- backache
- loss of height or stooped back
- fractures and breaks that occur easily
- loss of bone in the jaw
- complications including blot clots and pneumonia
However, some people with osteoporosis suffer no symptoms at all.
Causes
The most common cause is age - from about age 35, everyone's bone structure changes and becomes less dense. This combines with other factors such as:
- Inadequate calcium intake over the course of your life
- Poor bone formation from childhood
- A reduced amount of calcium taken up into the bones after menopause caused by low oestrogen levels.
Some diseases, such as those affecting the parathyroid gland, also affect calcium levels and can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis in Australia
Here is some information on the percentages of people with osteoporosis in Australia:
Women 60-64 years old: 15%
Women 80+ years old: 71%
Men 60-64 years old: 1.6%
Men 80+ years old: 19%
Prevention
As there is no way to replace bone lost due to osteoporosis, prevention is very important.
It is important to be conscious of your calcium intake from an early age. Taking calcium supplements is recommended to reduce the likelihood of becoming osteoporotic in later life - make sure you maximise your calcium absorption by always using a calcium form that is easily absorbed (such as calcium phosphate, calcium citrate or calcium hydroxyapatite).
Weight-bearing exercise such as weight lifting and walking is essential to keep your bones supple and healthy. Aim to exercise for 30-45 minutes at least three times per week (always check with your health care professional before starting a new exercise programme).
Avoid carbonated soft drinks and antacids containing aluminium, as they interfere with calcium absorption.
It has been suggested taking vitamin D and magnesium supplements to help the body absorb calcium
Smoking increases the likelihood of entering menopause early - stopping smoking may prolong your bone health.
More Information
To learn more about osteoporosis, you may like to try the following links:
Australian National Health Bones Week in August (http://www.healthybones.com.au/)
Blackmores (http://www.blackmores.com.au)
The Medical Journal of Australia, "The prevention and management of osteoporosis -
Consensus statement" (http://www.mja.com.au/public/guides/osteo/osteo.html)
Osteoporosis Australia (http://www.osteoporosis.org.au)
Or click here for a list of osteoporosis supplements available from MJ Health & Beauty.
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MJ Health & Beauty Forums : General Health and Beauty
Topic: Osteoporosis Information
