Posts Tagged ‘osteoporosis’

Reasons For Osteoporosis

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Fosamax and Femur Fracture

Osteoporosis is a major health problem affecting over 10 million Americans and there are 34 million more at risk. Men are also affected by this condition and not only women. In order to understand this condition better that can be helpful in terms of how to deal with it, different studies have been made. One of these studies have found out that prebiotics is a good prevention for osteoporosis.

The Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University conducted a study about prebiotics and bone benefits. It was discovered that the ingestion of prebiotic fiber promotes the production of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This may give the body an increased ability to absorb the nutrients that can help in preventing osteoporosis.

When bones start becoming thin and the bone mineral density decreases, osteoporosis is present. This medical condition is considered as a silent disease because it displays no symptoms not until it’s too late and a fracture has occurred. Just why does this condition happen? There are actually many different factors such as:

Hormones. Estrogen is the primary sex hormones of women. One of its major functions is to maintain bone mineral density by decreasing bone resorption while improving bone formation. Women who are at their menopausal stage and who are at high risk of developing the disease can use this factor as a reason. In the case of men, those who are dealing with hypogonadism – a situation where one produces less or no sex hormones– are more likely to develop this disease.

Vitamins and Minerals. Vitamins and minerals like vitamin D an calcium are needed in order to ensure healthy bones. Calcium contributes through ensuring that bones are strong and improving the level of one’s bone density. On the other hand, vitamin D works by aiding in the absorption and regulation of calcium throughout the body.

Lifestyle. An observation has been made among people who are excessive consumers of alcohol and they were found out to have lower bone density. Furthermore, cigarette smoking is also believed to cause rapid bone loss. Meanwhile, coffee is also considered a contributing factor in the occurrence of bone loss.

Furthermore, mobility is essential to the movement of the calcium in the bones. High risks of osteoporosis are found among people who have sedentary lifestyle. Engaging in regular exercise can help a lot.

The factors mentioned above are modifiable. This is good news because it can mean that we can possibly stay away from the disease. Anyone would prefer sidestepping the disease than treating it with medications like Fosamax, whose manufacturer has been Fosamax class action lawsuit.

References:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Prebiotics-again-show-bone-boosting-benefits-for-teens/?c=jDU207Js6X%2BBW1WwpV80Eg%3D%3D&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/osteoporosis/article_em.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoporosis/DS00128/DSECTION=causes

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Important Factors For Healthy Bones

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

Fosamax Lawsuit Settlements

Millions of Americans are worried that they might be at risk for developing osteoporosis, especially older men and menopause-bound women.  Some people would have to wind up to unnecessary osteoporosis screening and worse, to take osteoporosis drugs, which could make things worse. Yet, you must remember that proper diet and wholesome lifestyle significantly impacts the health of your bones, thus lowering the risk of osteoporosis.Different medical studies and research have been conducted by the medical industry to find ways of preventing osteoporosis. As a result of one of these studies, Arizona residents are advised regarding vitamin D intake to prevent osteoporosis.

 

The way you live your life, which mirrors your attitude and values, has a direct link to your health, in general. For example, too much alcohol consumption may aggravate your risk of osteoporosis. Hence, if you are a heavy drinker, you might need to ask your doctor if your bone density already hangs in the balance.

 

Another important factor in slowing down the progress of osteoporosis is exercise. Furthermore, weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging and hiking, apply tension to the muscle and bone, which causes the body to respond by increasing bone density, especially in young adults. Additional benefit for the elderly people, especially women, is the reduction of risk of fractures by improving muscle strength and balance, there by preventing incidence of falls.

 

Basically, it is your diet that supplies the building materials for your bones. Despite having no direct contribution to building up your bones, vitamin D promotes the absorption and regulation of calcium in your body. The contributors to the bone structure are chiefly calcium and phosphate, while magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin K are also important to maintaining the health of your bones.

 

Several studies have already pointed out the direct connection between cigarette smoking and decline in bone density. Also, most smokers have the inclination towards other osteoporosis risk factors. Most smokers are thinner than non-smokers while drinking more alcohol and having poor diet and exercise.

 

While preventing the development of osteoporosis is always better than treating the disease itself, there are several treatment options. As a biphosphonate drug, Fosamax is one of the most widely prescribed medications for the brittle-bone medical condition. However, Fosamax femur fracture has been reported to be an adverse effect of the drug against which people filed complaints and a lawsuit against its manufacturer.

 

References:

cornellwomenshealth.com/static_local/pdf/WHA0210_BoneHealth.pdf

health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/physical-activity/exercise’s-effects-on-bones-and-muscles.html

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Know How To Prevent Osteoporosis Through Understanding Its Risk Factors

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

The figures of osteoporosis prevalence in the United States was close to 52 million people in 2010 and, by 2020, may go as high as 63 million. It is a bone illness characterized by the reduction of the bones or the loss of bone density. The several risk factors explicate why we speak millions when talking about osteoporosis. 

Beyond doubt, the cliché “Prevention is better than cure” relates to the case of osteoporosis.  Yet, there is no identified cure for osteoporosis, though you can treat the ailment with bone drugs like Fosamax. Then again, repercussion may come in the form of adverse reactions, and in this case, Fosamax may cause a femur fracture to its long-term patronizers. 

So that we can think of ways to avoid osteoporosis it is highly significant that we get an insight on the risk factors of osteoporosis. There are aspects that are non-modifiable while others can still be changed. Factors you cannot modify are: 

Gender. Women are more likely to suffer the disease than men.

Age. Elder people tend to lose bone mass faster. 

Ethnicity. White and Asian women have elevated risk while, on the other hand, Black and Hispanic women are at lesser risk. 

Family history. A family history of osteoporosis would hint your tendency of incurring the disease as well.

The modifiable factors of osteoporosis are: 

Sex hormones. Women who are estrogen-deficient – like in the menopausal stage, as well as men with low testosterone levels, are likely to endure the bouts of osteoporosis. 

Anorexia nervosa. It is an eating disorder characterized by the refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. 

Calcium and Vitamin D intake. Comestibles with low content of these nutrients can make you susceptible to bone loss. A diet with very little intake of these nutrients may lead to gradual bone loss. 

Medication use. Long-standing use of steroidal medicine or anti-seizure drugs could succumb oneself to loss of bone mass. 

Lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyle or lengthened bed immobility makes bones weaker. 

Cigarette smoking. Smoking cigarettes can abate the bones. 

Alcohol intake. When drinking alcohol becomes too much it may increase the risks of bone loss and fracture. 

Identifying the risk factors of osteoporosis will help us understand how prone we are to bear this disease. The exact treatment medicine Fosamax may also serve as preventive medication for the said bone-crippling illness. Nonetheless, this would mean that the Fosamax side effects might be part of your ordeals.

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The Basics Of Bone Health And Preventing Osteoporosis

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

Bone in the human body are living parts that are always undergoing a replacement process. Multipl cells allow for this to happen. Osteoclasts are the cells that eat away living bone, creating small channels allowing the bone forming cells to lay down new bone. This is called remodeling.

Hormones regulate the bone turnover process. As one gets older, hormone levels decline, especially beyond age 40. This can result in reduced bone turnover, or a significant change in the ratio of bone formation to resorption. When less bone is formed than resorbed, bone density will start decreasing. Up to a certain decrease, one’s fracture risk doesn’t change. At a certain point, a patient ends up with osteopenia, which is a decrease in bone density over 1.5 times standard deviation from what is seen in “young normal” patients. Once this decrease reaches 2.5 standard deviations below the “young normal” the term is osteoporosis. These numbers are achieved with a bone density testing.

What are the variables interfering with bone regeneration? Diet is extremely important. Intake of too much soda and eating too many processed foods can leach calcium out of one’s bones. Another important variable is declining hormone levels. As this occurs, the ratio of bone production to resorption may be adversely affected and demineralization may result.

Interestingly, too much exercise can be detrimental to bone quality. A normal amount of exercise is very good for bone health to increase and maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis. If a person exercise too much, it can lead to a triad of problems including disordered eating, amenorrhea (loss of a girl’s period), and osteoporosis.

Women start losing bone density during their twenties, and altered hormone levels are the main reason. Bioidentical hormones are the best bone management program for maintaining bone density. Bioidentical hormone replacement treatment (BHRT) provides natural hormones identical to what the body produces. The typical hormones distributed by pharmaceutical companies are composed of synthetic hormones. There are considerable potential side effects with these hormones made in a lab.

The hormones evaluated and treated with bioidentical hormones arizona by Arizona naturopathic doctors include thyroid hormones, testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone. Restoring those hormones back to prime levels can reduced patient fracture risk along with increasing concentration, energy, creativity, vitality, while reducing wrinkles and blood pressure and may help with Phoenix weight loss. The combination of benefits is substantial.

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