What is osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease affecting the bone structure and density of women with menopause. Osteoporosis literally means "porous bone" and this weakening of the bone can lead to unexpected fractures.

Osteoporosis are usually painless, thus it can go undetected for a very long time and might only be diagnosed once a fracture occurs.

Who is prone to osteoporosis

It is estimated that about 80% of all women that is experiencing menopause are susceptible to osteoporosis. Furthermore according to statistics about 33% of all women over 50 years old will experience fractures due to osteoporosis.

Men are also been affected by osteoporosis, but not as much as in the case with women. It is estimated that only 20% of men are affected by osteoporosis and that they are also affected much later in their lifetime as women. This might be due to the fact that a man's skeleton is much stronger and more bulky that women as well as the fact that women starts very early in their lifetime with hormonal changes, known as menopause.

This concludes that women needs to take much greater care as they are very susceptible to osteoporosis and once the first fracture occurred; she is also prone to more fractures.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

It is important for all women to take a proactive approach against osteoporosis as it is undetected until a fracture occurs. With most other diseases there is signs and symptoms that will warn a sufferer of the possibility of an underlying problem, but not with osteoporosis.

There are a couple of signs that one can look out for that might indicate the possibility of someone having osteoporosis.

Below are some common symptoms that might indicate osteoporosis:

* Loss of height as a result of a weakened spine
* Fractured bones
* Brittle fingernails
* Spine deformities
* Periodontal disease
* Tooth loss
* Bone pain and tenderness
* Neck, spine and lumbar pain


What causes osteoporosis

Without a doubt, osteoporosis is linked to hormonal changes. This explains why 80% of women are suffering from menopause as they are undergoing extreme hormonal changes when they enter perimenopause. During this time there is an extreme change in hormone levels which results in inadequate levels of estrogen. Without adequate levels of estrogen, bones can not absorb adequate levels of calcium which is used to replenish bone mass as the older cells die.
When these cells slough off and die and are not being replenished, bone density decreases which causes osteoporosis.

There are other factors as well causing osteoporosis such as certain medications, genetic factors and insufficient bone growth during one's youth.

How can you prevent osteoporosis?

Prevention is better than cure! It is best to rather try and prevent the disease from starting in the first place than later searching for a cure. There are ways to increase bone mass and also to decrease the destruction of bones like we find in menopausal women.

It is best to take the bull by the horns before this becomes a problem. Below is a list of some preventative measures that can be taken to prevent this dreadful disease.

* Make sure you are eating enough calcium
* Eat food rich in Vitamin D
* Exercise regularly as keeping fit is always very beneficial
* Stop smoking if you are currently smoking
* Do not consume alcohol, avoid it
* If you are obese, lose it. Maintain a healthy weight for your height
* Prevent falling, wear appropriate shoes and take other necessary measures

Treatment for osteoporosis

When we are looking for treatment for a condition, we always start with the least invasive treatment. This might mean something as simple as a lifestyle change like eating healthier, taking more fluids, a vitamin supplement and should this not proof successful, we can move to pharmaceuticals and surgery.

The best way to combat hormonal changes can be accomplished successfully with lifestyle changes and alternative medicine. Alternative medicine is all natural, very safe and doesn't only help you combat the hormonal changes but also give your body that overall boost it needs to maintain energy levels and keep you healthy.