Since osteoporosis has becomee, international as well as national organizations developed useful and relevant osteoporosis screening guidelines. Among the organizations that develop these guidelines are National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG).These two organizations formulated osteoporosis screening guidelines that are compliant with criteria set by World Health Organization.

The tool often utilized for osteoporosis screening is FRAX Assessment Tool; it was created by WHO to help organizations.

Only this year,a more recent set of osteoporosis screening guidelines for the United States were suggested by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This group is mainly tasked to revise and recommend osteoporosis screening guidelines that can be considered as more responsive by providing early detection and treatment. To illustrate an example, NOGG previously set osteoporosis screening guidelines, which should qualify women who are  at least 60 years old.

Lately, some guidelines have been modified, which includes early screening for women aged between 50-64 years old.

The reason for such updates is early determination of bone fracture risk  that can possibly occur in the next ten years. Also, screening a younger woman is important because there can be contributory factors that can lead to osteoporosis. For example, women who are too health conscious can resort to over exercise making them miss their monthly period. If such women always subject themselves to strenous work-outs, these fitness conscious women can be impaired by osteoporosis. It is also possible that women who consume too much alcohol or smoke heavily are exposing themselves to osteoporosis.

Nowadays, various tests are done for osteoporosis screening. Among these tests is dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) which measures bone density on spine, hip and wrist because these are the areas often affected by osteoporosis. Certain tests like ultrasound, CT scanning and single photon absorptiometry are often part of the screening process suggested by doctors.

Nonetheless, people must also understand some risks concerning osteoporosis screening. Actually, some specialists do not suggest early screening for women who are at low-risk for osteoporosis. Why? The results can indicate a false positive which eventually leads to taking medications that can be harmful to women. Osteoporosis screening has its own advantages and disadvantages so it pays to be informed.

Tags: osteoporosis screening, frax assessment tool, national osteoporosis foundation, osteoporosis, nogg

If there is one medical condition that women would like to avoid when they get older, it would be osteoporosis. How come? Osteoporosis definitely weakens the bones which makes women more susceptible to injuries such as hip fractures. It is even disturbing to know that health statistics reported that thirty-five percent of women who suffer from hip fractures eventually die. Because of such consequences, preventing osteoporosis at an earlier stage is very important. If you want  to start early in preventing osteoporosis from happening to you, check out the following advice.

Make calcium your daily supplement. Food products like dairy (especially milk) are very rich sources of calcium for the bones.Nowadays, a lot of milk companies often present their products as a solution to preventing osteoporosis. However, calcium must be taken as early as possible to help in the formation of strong bones that prevents the condition. The bones gradually loses collagen as people become older; thus, osteoporosis cannot be helped by compensating much calcium at a later age. Likewise, proper amount of Vitamin D should be present for calcium to be absorbed properly by the body. This means being exposed to the sunlight for as little as fifteen minutes on a daily basis.

Try resistance training exercises. If people are keen on preventing osteoporosis early, they should do regularly. Actually, older women who do resistance training can still gain bone density according to some studies. Plus, women who are physically active can balance their bodies which lessens the risk of injuries like slipping. There are various equipments which can be used for resistance training – dumb bells, elastic bands, and Swiss ball. Pilates can also complement resistance training because it improves flexibility.

Get sun exposure. Lately,people are so obsessed with shielding themselves from the sun all the time. If we avoid the sun, then we are also depriving ourselves of the much needed Vitamin D that boosts calcium absorption. People who reside in areas with warmer climates often absorb more vitamin D than those who live in cold regions. A good example would be the case of Canada where citizens are required to take higher Calcium supplementation. Soak in the sun early morning to avoid harmful UV rays.

Learning the steps in preventing osteoporosis early can make life more enjoyable as we get older.

Tags: preventing osteoporosis

All over the world, the incidence of osteoporosis has been on the rise for the past decade, it affects almost a hundred million people from Japan, US, and Europe. The statistics revealed by the International Osteoporososis Foundation should not betaken lightly for it indicates that for every three women affected by osteoporosis, one would end up in hip fracture. For these reasons, individuals with this condition would look for different osteoporosis treatment options.

Such demand has produced marketing promotions that endorse calcium fortified milk to bone loss supplements which have created a large industry. However, the question remains: What makes an osteoporosis treatment effective?

First of all, people must understand that when osteoporosis sets in , there is no turning back. Truth is, osteoporosis treatment options can only minimize the impact of the condition to the bones by delaying the progress of the disease. The good thing about knowing this fact early is that people like you can be aware of some risk factors that you must avoid to prevent osteoporosis. Therefore, osteoporosis treatment must come along with prevention to make the approach more holistic for the patient.

Here are three main elements of osteoporosis treatment and prevention:

1. Try to pursue wellness. Almost any other illness can be prevented by making healthy choices. Components of a healthy diet must include the required daily intake for calcium, potassium, and magnesium to avoid osteoporosis later. Lessen your intake of red meat like pork and beef; rely more on fish and chicken as a protein source. In the same manner, if people continue drinking too much alcohol and smoke heavily, they can be vulnerable to osteoporosis.

2. Medications. There are two kinds of medications for osteoporosis treatment. The first one promotes bone strength and arrest the onset of bone loss. The second one helps in the formation of strong bones. The most fundamental step in approaching osteoporosis treatment would be to see a doctor first than take drugs. In some cases, the doctor requries the patient to undergo bone mineral density test for proper assessment.

3. Exercise regularly. In fact, a recent study indicated that bone density of older women can still be increased by performing strength training exercises. Doing resistance training exercises for twice a week can contribute to increase in bone density.

The aforementioned approaches to osteoporosis treatment are not only practical but guarantee your safety as well.

Tags: osteoporosis treatment, osteoporosis

Osteoporosis in men has not been an issue until recently because majority of the population affected by this condition were mostly elderly/postmenopausal women. Lately, some studies show that incidence of osteoporosis in men is rising as well. Comprehensive research concerning the progression of osteoporosis in men was conducted by an endocrinologist-Sundeep Khosla. Details of his research regarding osteoporosis in men was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Endocrinol Metabolism in 2010.

Most women would struggle with osteoporosis especially when menopause comes; likewise, osteoporosis in men happens due to some factors. When it comes to bone density, men have higher rates than women, since they are more subject to carrying weight in their daily lives. Unfortunately, there are other factors that can decrease bone density in men. Khosla’s research reveals that hip fractures can also happen to men as they grow older. A major difference between the two is that bone density loss is much more delayed among older males. One of the major reasons for such is that men do not experience menopause. Having said that, osteoporosis in men is possible, check the risk factors below.

Possible Risk Factors of Osteoporosis in Men

*Hypogonadism

*Smoking

*Alcoholism

*Physical Inactivity

*Decreased Weight

*Low calcium intake

*Chronic bronchitis

*Blindness

*Low testosterone

*SSRI use

Among the top risk factors is hypogonadism which was elaborated further in the study. When the body produces only low levels of sex hormones, that is hypogonadism. If women are adversely affected by the stoppage of estrogen production during menopause, so do men. Although menopause for men is unheard of, becoming older can lower testosterone levels dramatically. Also, low testosterone levels can be caused by certain medications as well as cancer treatments. It is not uncommon to hear of the rising rate of prostate cancer nowadays.

According to Dr Khosla, estradiol, a basic form of estrogen, plays a crucial role in abating the development of osteoporosis in men; a fact that men must realize. Scientific research is relentless in coming up with solutions to this situation; However, men should also pay attention to the risk factors. Prevention is always better than cure.

Tags: osteoporosis in men, osteoporosis

The growing incidence of osteoporosis worldwide has caused much concern from health agencies. Statistics reveal that one out of three women experience hip fractures linked to osteoporosis. Hip fractures put at risk women’s health that can cause disability or death; hence, osteoporosis must be given attention.

Women can find other means to avoid having osteoporosis later in life. A good approach is to try an osteoporosis diet that outlines all the dietary requirements needed to avoid acquiring the condition. Starting early with an osteoporosis diet can be done by reading the following information.

The primary step in this diet is to meet the daily requirements for calcium. Usually, women must have an intake of 1000 to 1200 mg of calcium that can aid in the development of strong bones. During menopause and pregnancy, a womans’ body loses substantial amount of calcium. However, the body’s absorption of calcium can be enhanced by taking Vitamin D. The suggested daily allowance for Vitamin D should be around 400 to 800 IU.

It is a must for an osteoprosis diet to contain different food sources that are rich in calcium. This includes liver, calcium fortified milk,egg yolks and other dairy products. It is also important to know that women who have smaller frames are at a high risk; hence, they should be guided by osteoporosis guidelines.

The next thing to follow in an osteoporosis diet is staying away from food sources that inhibit the body from getting calcium. Sadly,there are still many women choose to persist with unhealthy food habits. For example, it is important to avoid any kind of soda since it has phosporic acid that blocks calcium. Phosporic acid can diminish the body’s ability to absorb calcium.

In an osteoporosis diet, sodium should also be minimized. It is very important to eat fresh fruits and vegetables rather than processed or canned food. It is a very sad reality that an average individual’s sodium comsumption is way beyond the recommended daily intake;thus, resulting to health complications.

A book titled Natural Myth, Calcium Solutions also tells us that allowing the body to become acidic is not good. Acidity in the body can increase when people eat too much animal products and consume sugar. In order for the body to lessen acidity, it draws calcium from the bones that lessens body’s supply.

Indeed, these pointers for an osteoporosis diet can guide you in making the right choices

Tags: osteoporosis diet, strong bones, osteoporosis

It is most likely that a great majority women will suffer from osteoporosis than men. Eventually, as the body ages, it comes to a point wherein it cannot support bone formation and development. The body usually requires some important minerals that can help in the formation and development of bones. The two minerals that play an important role in one formation are calcium and phosphate.

Not having enough calcium in the body is one fo the leading causes of osteoporosis in women. Once the body is deprived of calcium, the bones become more fragile that makes a woman susceptible to injuries. One of the main causes of osteoporosis among women is going through menopause. Menopause increases a woman’s risk of having osteoporosis because the body stops producing hormones known as estrogens. In fact, many elderly women who accidentally slip end up having a hip fracture as a consequence of having brittle bones.

Nevertheless, there are many causes of osteoporosis in women that people must know.

Knowing the different causes of osteoporosis in women is a good start in avoiding the condition. Here are several causes of osteoporosis that you can learn from:

The following categories are descriptions of ways that contributes to the development of osteoporosis in women.

*Lack of exercise – Women who rarely get any exercise is a candidate for osteoporosis. Doing some exercise for at least three times a week can keep you healthy. Only a year ago, a study made on lder women who did some minimal strength training did increase their bone density by as much as 9%. Taking some Calcium and Vit D is great ;yet, lifting weights also builds stronger muscles that supports the bones and joints.

*Biological Factors – These could be attributed to race or genetics. Individuals with a history of osteoporosis in their families should be extra careful and take precautions by taking calcium supplements. Smaller body frames could also mean higher risk for ostoporosis since the bones are much delicate. When women come from a ceratin race, they can also be more exposed to this condition. Asian and Caucasian women are more vulnerable to this condition.

*Unhealthy lifestyle. Osteoporosis is not a remote possibility for women who can be considered as heavy smokers or drink too much alcohol. Calorie restricted diets can also deprive the body of much needed calcium.

Tags: osteoporosis, causes of osteoporosis

Is there an elderly woman in your family who takes bisphosphonate drugs like Fosamax or Boniva? At one time, perhaps five years ago, these were drugs that were considered to be on the cutting edge. Anyone with osteoporosis symptoms at the time was recommended these drugs. The hope was that they stopped the body from reabsorbing bone minerals and would make an aging woman’s bones far denser and thicker than they would otherwise be. There were a few dissenting voices back then that wondered if denser was always better. Today, these are popular drugs for those with osteoporosis symptoms. And it’s beginning to be clear that those dissenting voices back then made a lot of sense.

The injuries at first, were completely strange. Women would come in with horrific fractures to their femurs (their thighbones). They would say that they were just standing or just walking, when suddenly, their thighbones just snapped in two. They just gave out. Some women would come in with both bones snapped simultaneously. And then, when they had their legs put in a cast, or if they had in their bones re-joined with metal plates, they took a very long time to heal. Months sometimes.

At first, the doctors were perplexed about how this just didn’t seem to go with any other osteoporosis symptoms they had ever come across. Until they found that all of these women took those bisphosphonates. The problem is that bisphosphonates, in the way they act, prevent the body from absorbing bone mass. It’s the way these drugs are supposed to make bones stronger. But when that part of the system is shut down, the body doesn’t know how to do anything with your bones anymore. Microfractures, for instance, are a natural phenomenon. We all get these tiny little fractures that our bodies keep repairing. When the bone repair process is interfered with, the body doesn’t know what to do with its microfractures and just lets them be. Until one day, they add up.

Studies find that if you suffer from osteoporosis symptoms and you take bisphosphonates, that you are twice as likely as women who don’t, to suffer from terrible thighbone fractures. So what should doctors and women patients suffering from osteoporosis symptoms do now? Doctors was still prescribing these drugs. Should women take them? Right now, scientists feel that unless there is something about you that makes you a high fracture risk, you shouldn’t really worry. But you really should stay tuned for more information.

Tags: osteoporosis symptoms, osteoporosis