Osteoporosis and Vitamin D – Lack of Vitamin D

Posted on February 11th, 2010

Osteoporosis and Vitamin D have a lot to do with each other. We all know that calcium is necessary for having healthy bones. It is actually Vitamin D that helps the body in absorbing Calcium. Therefore, Vitamin D is needed by children to develop strong bones, and adults need it to maintain their bone density. Studies have shown that a lower than normal level of Vitamin D can result in lower density of the bones, which make them susceptible to breaking even under slight pressure. So a lack of Vitamin D can be one of the main causes of osteoporosis.

The recommended daily intake of Vitamin D is 400 to 800 IU (International Units) for adults under fifty years of age. It goes to 800 to 1000 IU for people who are above fifty years. Osteoporosis and Vitamin D are closely associated for this very reason. There are basically two types of supplements in Vitamin D. They are Vitamin D3 which is called cholecalciferol and Vitamin D2 which is called ergocalciferol. While earlier it was believed that D3 was more effective than D2, recent research has shown that both forms of Vitamin D are equally effective at maintaining good bone health. While Vitamin D is essential for bone health, excess of the vitamin can be harmful to the body.

The body can get Vitamin D basically from three different sources viz., sunlight, food and nutrition supplements. The UVB rays from the sun are used by the body to synthesize Vitamin D. The amount of Vitamin D that the body can produce depends on the season of the year, the time of the day, the latitude where the person lives, their skin color and other factors. People who are more exposed to the sun generally synthesize more Vitamin D than those who are more protected from the sun. And since most people use a sunscreen to protect their skin, they may not be able to synthesize the required amount of Vitamin D from exposure to the sun alone. They need to have a good intake of Vitamin D through their regular food and / or diet supplements. Since Osteoporosis and Vitamin D are closely related, people suffering from the disease should ensure that they get their required amount of Vitamin D everyday.

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Hidden Danger: Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

Posted on February 5th, 2010

Many women, as they age, worry about osteoporosis. This disease affects women more than men, although men are not immune. It is called a silent disease: many people have no idea that they are afflicted until it immobilizes them. So what is osteoporosis – and its predecessor, osteopenia?

Osteoporosis is a loss of bone mass density. As osteoporosis progresses, bone loss can be so severe that the stress of standing, sitting, or even hugging a friend can cause bones to break. Most susceptible are the spine, hips, and wrists.

Typically associated with elderly women, osteoporosis may begin taking its silent toll while she is still in her twenties. In healthy people, bone mass builds for 20 to 35 years. As a person ages, bone density levels out and then typically decreases. Without intervention, bones become porous and weak. No symptoms materialize, however, until a fracture occurs. In its early stage, the disease is called osteopenia. Bone density has diminished but not so acutely as with osteoporosis. Osteopenia does indicate a risk of developing osteoporosis.

While one in four men over fifty, according to the National Institute of Health, are likely to develop osteoporosis, one half of all women will. Women are more susceptible because their bones are smaller, and because hormone changes after menopause affect calcium absorption.

Osteoporosis has no cure. Fortunately, preventative measures exist as well as treatments once the disease is diagnosed. Diet and exercise are the best ways to prevent or slow the advance of osteopenia and osteoporosis. A balanced diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D is the first step. This needs to start early in life to achieve maximum bone density, and then needs to continue to maintain that density. Any exercise routine, including walking, is helpful, but strength-training (weight-bearing) exercises are most beneficial to prevent or slow osteopenia. Smoking and excessive alcohol should be avoided as they contribute to calcium loss.

How do you know if you have osteopenia or osteoporosis? Losing height or developing a curved spine and stooped posture indicates a loss of bone mass. It is not necessary, however, to wait until the disease is this advanced. A simple, ten-minute bone density test measures the presence of the disease. A doctor can then recommend lifestyle changes or, as necessary, medicine that will stop or even reverse the loss of bone density.

Osteoporosis can be devastating; fortunately, it also can be controlled.

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Arthritis Osteoporosis Cause Cure

Posted on February 5th, 2010

Osteoporosis and arthritis are two diseases that affect the skeletal system, and as such are often mixed up with each other, particularly osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. The diagnosis and symptoms are very different for the two diseases, though neither have a cure. Of the two main types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the name osteoarthritis is mostly likely to be confused with osteoporosis, but in fact it is those who develop rheumatoid arthritis that are more likely to develop osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a state where the risk of breaking a bone becomes more likely, as they become less dense. This condition affects approximately 44 million people in the United States. As almost 70% of these are women, the disease is often considered to be a woman’s health issue, but it does affect men around 30% of the time. The bone density loss can cause back pain, posture changes and even a loss of height. Factors that increase the risk of developing osteoporosis include small bone structure, early onset menopause, amenhorrhea, lack of calcium in the diet, smoking, and a family history of osteoporosis.

One particular danger of osteoporosis is that it develops over a long period of time without discovery by bone density testing. Generally, the first symptom to cause testing is a breakage in the bone. There is no cure, but there are medications that can help. To aid in prevention of developing osteoporosis, it is recommended to have a healthy lifestyle including exercise and food with a lot of calcium and vitamin D.

Arthritis is a word for several diseases, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both types of arthritis affect the joints and joint tissues. With osteoarthritis, the focus is generally at the hips, knees, neck and hands. These joints can be overused by certain repetitive activities or excess weight. These conditions essentially erodes the cartilage that provides a pillow between the bones.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints in the extremities first. This form of arthritis is autoimmune and involves the body attacking the cartilage and lining at the joints. Neither form of arthritis has a cure, though both have symptoms such as pain and swelling which can be somewhat managed through medication.

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How to Prevent Osteoporosis?

Posted on February 3rd, 2010

Osteoporosis is a disease that can be undetected. Once it occurs in an individual there is no cure, no turning the clocks back. However it is also a disease that can be prevented. Most at risk for developing osteoporosis are women. Although men also experience the sometimes devastating effects of this disease, women are four times more likely to develop it.

Part of the problem in detecting osteoporosis is that it progresses along painlessly. An individual might not even know they have the disease until a bone breaks. With osteoporosis bones become fragile creating a greater risk of breakage.

In order to aid in the prevention of osteoporosis, it is especially important that before the age of 30 individuals develop a healthy lifestyle that builds and keeps bones strong. Building stronger bones can be done by taking the daily recommended amounts of vitamin D and calcium. This is dependent upon your age. Adult men and women who are between the ages of 19 and 50 years old should receive 1,000 milligrams daily of calcium. The recommended daily dosage for those who are 50 years and older is 1,200 milligrams. Vitamin D can be taken in supplements or found in certain types of food such as egg yolks, liver, and sardines.

Another way to help prevent osteoporosis is to avoid excessive use of alcohol or cigarettes. It is believed that with excessive use of these products there is a greater chance of decreased bone density.

It is also important that individuals exercise regularly. The more advantageous types of exercise are those that are weight-bearing, done at least three times per week. Some types include: walking (especially with weights around your ankles or held in your hands), running, step aerobics, racquetball, and hiking. Any type of resistance exercises or activities will be beneficial. The greater bone mass that is built before the age of 30, the greater help it will prove to be in later years when bone mass begins to decrease.

Finally, it may be helpful to take a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test. This will measure bone density and determine if you have developed osteoporosis. With early detection it allows an individual the opportunity to take medication that will help maintain the amount of bone mass there is. It can’t build bone mass but it can stop further loss.

It is never too early nor is it too late to find ways to prevent osteoporosis. A healthy lifestyle can make all the difference in prevention.

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