osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become porous and fragile. “Osteo” means bone, whereas “porosis” means porous.
Easily broken bones due to osteoporosis are the spine, femur and wrist.
In order to maintain bone density, body need calcium and other minerals in sufficient quantities and production of several kinds of hormones in the proper amount, including estrogen and testosterone in men. In addition, intake of vitamin D that is needed to help absorb calcium from food and menghantarkannya to the bone.
What causes osteoporosis?
Our bones in fact never silent. Every time the formation of new bone cells, and cells of old bone removed from the body. In childhood, the formation rate far greater than the loss of bone cells that are old. As a result of bone in children will be longer and greater.
In young adults and speed the formation of bone cell loss is almost balanced. But from the age of 30 to 40 years, the speed of bone formation decreased, as a result of fewer and fewer bone cells, thus prone to osteoporosis occurs.
Anyone at risk for osteoporosis?
Here are some things that increase the risk of getting osteoporosis:
* Menopause. The risk of osteoporosis is greater after women reach menopause, because after menopause, levels of ovarian estrogen production has fallen dramatically. It is known that estrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone strength by helping bone-forming cells work. In fact, the faster the menopause occurs, the greater the risk of osteoporosis. Generally, women begin menopause at age 45 to 55 years.
* Appointment of content followed by the appointment of the two ovaries. If only one ovary is removed, does not increase the risk of osteoporosis.
* After age 30 to 40 years. Because after this age, less bone formation than the loss of bone cells.
* Smoking. The risk of osteoporosis in smokers two times greater than non-smokers. This happens because smoking lowers estrogen in the blood.
* Having a family of osteoporosis. Women who have osteoporosis mothers have a higher risk for getting osteoporosis.
* Women with less weight. Faster thin woman of osteoporosis compared with obese women. This is associated with differences in estrogen production level, where women are more prone to fat.
* Lack of regular exercise. Regular exercise helps slow the emergence of osteoporosis. Conversely, lack of exercise cause osteoporosis more easily arise. Sports such as road or run, triggering the cells to become more active bone to form strong bones.
* Certain medications. Some of certain medications may increase the risk of osteoporosis. These drugs appear to increase bone loss and reduce the rate of bone formation. These drugs include cortisone (used for asthma, lung disease, arthritis, and allergies). But this effect only occurs if the drug is used in high doses, or given for 3 months or more. The use of this drug for several days, or weeks, usually not a risk factor for osteoporosis. Thyroid treatment also contribute to the emergence of osteoporosis
* A particular disease. Some diseases that increase the risk of osteoporosis: rheumatoid arthritis, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, chronic liver disease, and intestinal diseases.
* Intake of calcium or vitamin D is low. If our food contains less kalisum for many years, especially during growth, the risk for osteoporosis increases. Lack of calcium causes a lack of bone formation. Vitamin D is needed to help the absorption of calcium and menghantarkannya to the bone.
What happens to teenagers?
In adolescence, bones grow rapidly. If calcium intake is sufficient, bones will experience maximum growth and become stronger.
But calcium-rich foods (eg milk and cheese), are also high in calories. Thus, the fear of fat teens avoid these foods. As a result of their lack of calcium and if it continues will lead to osteoporosis in the future. The best way to overcome this is to consume calcium supplements.
Soft drinks, beverages that are popular for this teenager, some of which contain phosphates with high levels. Attract calcium phosphate from bone. So there is a good idea to reduce consumption of teenagers these sodas.
Osteoporosis and Broken Bones
Osteoporosis itself does not cause symptoms. Most people do not realize that the more fragile bones until they suffer a fracture.
If you have fragile bones, fractures can occur due to things small, such as a fall, after lifting a rather heavy burden, or even by foot.
If the fracture occurs in the spine, the vertebrae become shorter. In severe osteoporosis, a vertebra can fracture. Genesis is the most causes fall height and stooped in the elderly
As a result of this breakdown, the position of the spine joints changed. These changes may cause arthritis and pain.
Surgery to repair a broken bone in osteoporosis is very difficult, because the bone is very weak for the screws and fitted with a metal rod base.
How to prevent osteoporosis?
Knowledge is the key. The more you know about the prevention and treatment, the greater your opportunity to remain active. The key to osteoporosis treatment is to prevent loss of bone cells with adequate food, healthy habits and proper exercise.
Prevention can reduce or completely stop the loss of bone cells. The sooner did a precautionary measure, the better the result. So, if you enter the category of high bersiko osteoporosis, saatnyalah to take precautionary action, before you suffer a fracture.
Osteoporosis prevention measures are watching your diet, enough exercise, and consider the use of drugs that match.
Calcium
One of the most important ways to prevent osteoporosis is to consume enough calcium. Here are presented the necessary dose of calcium by the body according to age groups:
* The children, aged 1-10 years: 800 mg calcium / day
* Teenagers, aged 11-18 years: 1200 mg calcium / day
* Teenagers who become pregnant: 1600 mg calcium / day
* A pregnant woman, aged 19 years and over: 1200 mg calcium / day
* Women breastfeeding: 1200 mg calcium / day
* Adult males under 65 years: 1000 mg calcium / day
* Adult males, 65 years iatas d: 1500 mg calcium / day
* Women adult, before menopause: 1200 mg calcium / day
* Women adult, before after: 1500 mg calcium / day
Vitamin D
One function of vitamin D is to help the absorption of calcium from the intestine. Some people with osteoporosis have vitamin D levels are low in the body so that the absorption of calcium from the intestine is also less. Vitamin D is formed in the body with the help of exposure to sunlight or obtained directly from food.
Dosis harian vitamin d adalah 400 IU. This dose can be increased to 800 IU, especially if you are not getting enough vitamin D from food or lack of exposure to sunlight. But remember, do not consume more than this number, unless your doctor recommend it.
Sports
Regular exercise load is very good for preventing osteoporosis. Start with light intensity and then increased to 30 to 40 minutes per session several times a week.
Although swimming is not included sports load, but very good for strengthening the back muscles. The stronger back muscles, the more powerful and also solid spine. This water sport is also a good choice for people with arthritis or those who experience pain when doing exercise load.
Some of the benefits of exercise:
* Maintaining the bone. Strong muscles make bones strong and dense.
* Improve body shape. Trained back muscles help keep the body in order to remain upright and prevents stooped
How do I prevent calcium intake is sufficient?
One of the best ways to slow the loss of bone cells to calcium intake is adequate. Here are some examples of ways to get calcium:
* Keep your day to consume 3 to 4 servings of calcium-rich foods. Milk and cheese are foods that contain lots of lactulose which increases absorption of calcium.
* If you go on a diet, stick to consume low-fat milk.
* Drink milk fortified vitamin D and try to get exposure to sunlight is sufficient.
* Avoid foods with fat and high protein, because fat and protein that can interfere with excessive calcium absorption in the intestine.
* Kofein in coffee also play a role in the loss of calcium, so do not drink too much coffee.
How to overcome the pain?
If a fracture occurs, there will be mild to severe pain. Pain relievers such as paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may help. If the pain still arises, you need a doctor to get pain relief stronger.
For vertebral fractures, along with treatment, steam given on the back two times every day for 10 – 15 minutes is very helpful healing pain.
Other methods of pain control include electrical stimulation of the skin over the affected part. This method is called Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS).
