Myths and Facts about Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis makes the human bones weak and brittle, so fragile that a fall or even a slight impact, even a strong coughing attack can cause damage to the integrity of the bone. All kinds of fractures that are associated with this disease are fractures of the wrist, hip and spine.

Myths and Facts about Osteoporosis

Myth - osteoporosis about itself claims pain in the bones.

The fact - the beginning of this disease of bones, oddly enough, you can not even feel at all. Bones of a person throughout life are constantly updated. They lose a lot of money, then they recruit it again. Bones reach the peak of their strength only at the beginning of middle age.

Osteoporosis develops when the rate of loss of bone tissue begins to exceed the rate at which the bone is renewed. A person can still look and feel great until an unexpected fracture or a decrease in growth becomes an alarming signal that something is wrong in the body.

Doctors nowadays, fortunately, can predict by the scanning of bone density the tendency to osteoporosis, so effective treatment can be started in advance. An analysis on osteoporosis can be done in many large medical centers.

Myth - prevention of osteoporosis: only the elderly need to worry

Fact. Although bone fractures, as well as a decrease in growth are mainly characteristic of an older person, the risk of osteoporosis is genetically determined by 80%.It is for this reason that it is never too early to start a useful lifestyle that helps our bones, especially if someone in the family has already had osteoporosis.

To maintain bone health it is recommended: to consume the necessary amount of calcium;Receive a sufficient number of vitamin D when staying in sunlight and food;Refrain from excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and smoking.

Myth - osteoporosis is not as serious a disease as the ailments of the cardiovascular system and cancer.
In fact - this disease can even lead to death.

Fractures resulting from minor effects can cause cascade problems related to health. For example, cardiovascular, neurological and psychological diseases.

Pains and decreased mobility due to fractures can significantly reduce the quality of human life. For example, only 15% of elderly people after a hip fracture may regain their former mobility;And worse, some of them die after an injury within a year. Only women are affected by the myth of osteoporosis.

Fact. Bones in men are stronger and less susceptible to fractures than women. However, for every four women suffering from osteoporosis, there is one man with this disease.

In men, osteoporosis is not really so obvious, because unlike women, they do not collide because of menopause with a sharp drop in estrogen levels. In the female, a decrease in the level of estrogen leads to a fairly rapid decrease in bone mass. However, low levels of estrogen and testosterone may also make older men vulnerable to fractures.

Myth - in the process of aging, everyone is equally at risk of this disease.

True. The risk is especially high among the fair-skinned slender Europeans. The risk for women with the lowest level of estrogen in the body is also higher due to the later onset of the moment of stopping menstruation due to eating disorders. People receiving treatment for certain hormone-dependent types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, may also be at increased risk of osteoporosis.

Myth - you can reverse or stop the loss of bone tissue

Truth. Over the past 15 years, tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of osteoporosis. Now you can stop or even reverse the loss of bone mass. For example, antiresorptive drugs, as well as short-term hormone replacement therapy, can help preserve bone tissue. Modern types of drugs can actually build a new bone, but one should never forget about the prevention of osteoporosis.