Facts about Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment

• One of the most well-known methods of prevention is the relationship between sufficient calcium and osteoporosis.
• If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or you’re concerned that you are already developing signs of the condition, you can be assured that treatments are available which can minimize your discomfort and your risks of fractures.

Osteoporosis is a serious disorder that can literally rob you of your quality of life in your later years. This condition occurs when the bones begin becoming more porous and less dense which makes them more fragile. For some patients who have osteoporosis even doing a simple task like lifting a grocery sack could cause a bone fracture. The good news is there are methods for osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

Preventing Osteoporosis

While treatments are available, you should do your best to prevent the problem from developing and it is never too early to get started. One of the most well-known methods is the relationship between sufficient calcium and osteoporosis. Because the disorder is caused by the disappearance of vital minerals, such as calcium, having a good storehouse of the nutrient can prevent bones from losing their density. You need 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily and 800 international units (IU) of Vitamin D. Both are needed because the vitamins help the body absorb the calcium.

If you are concerned about the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, you should incorporate more exercise into your lifestyle. Doing weight bearing exercises (walking, running, jump roping, etc.) help your body build stronger bones. Doing strength training exercises can have similar benefits for your upper body.

Another good idea is to quit smoking and to reduce your alcohol intake. Research has shown that both of these activities increase your risks of developing osteoporosis. Combining these steps with sufficient nutrients and good exercise can help you avoid the problem altogether so you may never have to worry about osteoporosis treatments.

Treating Osteoporosis

If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or you’re concerned that you are already developing signs of the condition, you can be assured that treatments are available which can minimize your discomfort and your risks of fractures. The most common are bone density medications. These are intended to slow the loss of your bone’s minerals. While hormone replacement therapy was once used for this purpose in menopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis, this is rarely the case today because such treatments were shown to increase the risks of some types of cancers and heart disease.

However, several new drugs have been introduced to the market which are filling this gap without those risks. These include Reclast (given via injection), Boniva, Actonel, Fosamax, and Evista.

If you’re looking for an osteoporosis natural treatment, the closest you’ll find that has been proven effective through medical studies is calcitonin which is a hormone produced normally in your body. This hormone can be given to patients, usually in the form of a nasal spray, and has shown to be effective at offering pain relief, preventing some fractures, and slowing bone loss. Of course, it does have its side effects. Some people are irritated by the nasal spray (an injectable version is also available), and calcitonin rarely works as well as the other drugs available on the market for osteoporosis treatment.

Remember that even though treatments are available none of them will help you regain lost bone density. That’s why preventative measures are so important.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.