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Posts Tagged ‘osteoporosis’

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

When a fracture occurs with minimal trauma is the most common cause of osteoporosis and densitometry is not necessary. If the patient has not suffered fractures a bone density test needs to be done (to measure bone mineral density) to dignosticar osteoporosis. In this case it is better to perform densitometry in the lumbar spine and hip in the forearm.

Even on the occasions that densitometry is not necessary (when there are previous fractures) should be performed a physical examination and blood tests to ensure that the cause of fractures is osteoporosis, since there are other diseases that may also cause fractures and loss of calcium in the bones and need different treatments than those used in osteoporosis. For example, cancers, vitamin deficiency or disease of the bone marrow can cause bone fractures. However, osteoporosis is the most common cause of fractures. Read the rest of this entry »

How can I prevent osteoporosis?

Get plenty of exercise throughout life.

Follow a diet with adequate calcium content and vitamin D.

A simple rule for adults is trying to consume 1,000 mg of calcium per day (eg 2 cups of milk and a yogurt or 100 gr. Of cheese). After menopause, osteoporosis experts recommend a dose of 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium per day. The same amount should be taken by persons who are treated with corticosteroids.

The people who do not like dairy products or are allergic to them should take calcium supplements. Currently on the market different preparations of calcium, some in combination with vitamin D. The amount of calcium tablets to be taken depends on the intake of dairy products. Calcium supplements should be combined with food in 2 or 3 doses per day. Read the rest of this entry »

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bone loses some of its calcium content, leading to more fragile bones susceptible to spontaneous fractures or accidents such as falls slightly smaller and sprains.

Osteoporosis can be diagnosed when there are fractures or when the disease is still asymptomatic. In this case it is necessary to measure the amount of bone mineral content by densitometry.

The frequency of the disease increases with age and rarely occurs before age 55. Women are affected more often than men. In people with osteoporosis fractures occur primarily in the spine at the height of the back, wrists and neck of the femur (hip bone). Each year there are 33,000 cases in Spain of hip fracture because of osteoporosis. Read the rest of this entry »

Although we found more cases of osteoporosis in women than men, they are not immune to this disease. Official statistics indicate that eight men would be affected by osteoporosis. In fact, according to Dr. Jacques Brown, a specialist in the field of osteoporosis, the proportion of men who have osteoporosis is higher.

There are a number of risk factors that may justify the development of osteoporosis in humans. Here are a few:
1. Hormone therapy against cancer of the prostate
2. Alcohol
3. Smoking
4. medication with cortisone
5. weak genetic

In these risk factors could add some bad habits:
1. The fact of not being active enough physically
2. A diet too low in fruits and vegetables
3. A diet too rich in acidifying foods (meat, legumes, cereals)
4. a diet too low in calcium
5. poor stress management

Requirements of calcium in humans
The man needs about 1,500 milligrams of calcium each day. Usually the food he brings in around 500 milligrams. He therefore lacking 1.000. If man is a consumer of dairy products, it may be possible to bridge this gap. A glass of eight ounces of milk contains 300 milligrams of calcium. A serving of yogurt provides both. It is also the case of an ounce and a half hard cheese like cheddar.

Without such a consumption of dairy products must be practically use supplementation to avoid missing calcium. Such supplementation can easily meet the calcium requirements of man: just take a dose of 350 milligrams of calcium three times a day.