Symptoms of osteoporosis - a disease that destroys bones

Osteoporosis is a disease that could not be. However, according to some researchers, by 2020 women with bone fractures will account for a third of all inpatients. This ailment is more common than colds, allergies and high cholesterol. And the treatment of osteoporosis is more expensive than the fight against asthma and diabetes. Mortality from femoral fractures among women is higher than that of all combined cancers. What to do to protect yourself from this disease?

What is osteoporosis?

It is a disorder in which the density of bone tissue is so reduced that a bone fracture happens even from a minor effect. Bones gradually become extremely fragile and porous. Old cells of bone tissue can not be replaced by new ones, although many patients do not even realize that they are sick. As a result, the first tangible symptoms of osteoporosis are fractures.

"Porous bones" - so literally translated the word "osteoporosis", the symptoms, the treatment of which can not be started, manifested for the first time, as a rule, only in old age. But the bones begin to thin out 30 years before the first fracture occurs. In addition, the bones coalesce much more slowly than in their youth, as the process of recovery of bone cells slows down.

Therefore, the higher it is possible to increase the density of bone tissue at a young age, the more time will pass before the disease manifests itself. Knowing this, you can protect yourself from osteoporosis.

The reasons why there are symptoms of osteoporosis

The exact causes are unknown, however, science speaks of factors contributing to the development of the disease:

• Hereditary features. Symptoms of osteoporosis will be felt more likely by thin women of low height (up to 157 cm) of Nordic origin with a light skin type.

• Sedentary lifestyle. Smoking people, whose diet is poor in calcium, staying in the sun on average less than 3 hours per week, abusing caffeine and alcohol - are at risk.

• The use of certain types of drugs. Diuretics (furosemide), cortisone, dilantine (long-term use), thyroid hormones, levothyroxine, agents containing aluminum hydroxide - increase the risk of osteoporosis.

• Health status. Symptoms of osteoporosis may occur more often in the following cases:

1. Artificial or early menopause, which causes a decreased level of estrogen.

2. Lack of menstruation (amenorrhea).

3. Anorexia nervosa caused by prolonged fasting or too hard diet.

4. Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

5. Diabetes.

6. Urolithiasis, kidney disease.

7. Intolerance to dairy products caused by deficiency of lactase.

8. Colitis, Ileit.

9. Rheumatoid arthritis.

10. Bed rest lasting more than three weeks

11. Alcoholism.

Prevention of osteoporosis

To protect against osteoporosis, it is necessary in the first thirty years of your life to do everything possible to increase sufficient density of bone tissue. To do this, you should:

• Exercise regularly

• Stop smoking

• Do not abuse caffeine and alcohol

• To monitor the correctness of their posture, paying special attention to the back

• In sufficient quantities to be in the sun, which contributes to the production of vitamin D

• Eat foods rich in calcium and not get involved in diets and starvation, leaving your body for a long time without the necessary minerals

Although it is not possible to cure completely of this ailment, nevertheless, effective drugs have been created that facilitate the patient's condition and reduce the risk of fractures.

Patients should constantly make an accessible and safe set of exercises, be physically active, monitor the diet and treat these recommendations with all seriousness, like prescribed medications.