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Osteoporosis is a disease that directly affects our bones, causing a decrease in the absorption of minerals such as calcium . It is much more common in people in old age, because our bones wear out over time, that is, the older you are, the more your bones will be worn and the more chances of developing osteoporosis you have.
It is natural that your bones will become weaker throughout your life, but the more severe your osteoporosis, the worse the consequences of a fall , which can be months of hospitalization for one or more broken bones or even death.
But despite this, several surveys show that women suffer more from this disease than men. This happens because after menopause , the production of the female sex hormone, estrogen , radically decreases.
One of the main functions of estrogen is the deposit of calcium in the bones, so it is not difficult to imagine that the bones of women suffer a noticeable weakening after menopause . For this reason, several precautions must be taken as women age.
Worsening Precautions
There are several ways to prevent osteoporosis from attacking or having complications from it. The main ways are:
- Have rugs attached to the floor;
- Avoid going up and down many stairs;
- Avoid leaving the floor wet or having a non-slip floor;
- Wear shoes with non-slip soles;
- Always use handrails when possible.
These tips are useful to prevent falls and, consequently, more serious problems with osteoporosis. But you don’t have to wait to get older to take care of yourself and prevent this disease. In fact, the sooner you think that osteoporosis can be a problem in your life, the more chances you have that it is not.
ATTENTION: Someone who suffers from osteoporosis should not be left alone at home for long periods, especially in homes that are not adapted to their needs. The ideal is that the person always has relatives and friends close by who can help at any time, even if they do not live in the same house.
What are the Causes of Osteoporosis?
In addition to low production and estrogen due to menopause, several other factors can contribute to a woman developing osteoporosis. Bad habits such as having a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and a lot of alcohol use during life, poor diet and excessive use of medications containing aluminum hydroxide may contribute to osteoporosis in the future to develop more strength.
Excessive physical exercise over a long period of time can also help osteoporosis to appear in your body. This is because certain types of exercise , such as the marathon, for example, end up decreasing the production of estrogen in the body of women.
Genetic conditions can influence whether or not you develop osteoporosis more easily, but that is not the most influencing factor, nor is it determining whether or not you will develop osteoporosis as you get older.
How to Prevent Osteoporosis
It is very common for women not to know they have osteoporosis until they have an accident that breaks a bone. This is because often no symptoms are manifested in an evident way.
Diagnosis
That is why it is always important to prevent falls and anything else that could fracture a bone when people get older, especially women, as osteoporosis is more common in them. The diagnosis of the disease usually appears after an X-ray examination
Even in youth, it is important to be aware and know that your bones will start to weaken at some point in your life and you can do something about it. Avoiding the bad habits mentioned above is a good start. Eating too much meat, drinking coffee and eating foods with too much salt is harmful and can help osteoporosis to develop.
Consulting your gynecologist regularly , especially after menopause, is important so that you can predict possible problems and that you can treat them before they can cause any harm to your health.
How is Osteoporosis Treatment Done?
It is not always possible to prevent osteoporosis from attacking your life, but there are treatments that help the symptoms of the disease improve and make your bones stronger. The hormone replacement treatment (or HRT) is the most efficient for the woman’s body to produce more estrogens and, consequently, strengthen her bones. However, this type of treatment is contraindicated in several situations and may not be recommended for you.
Several types of drugs that help strengthen bones also help with treatment, but you need to consult your doctor to find out which treatment will work best for you without affecting other areas of your health.
Foods That Help Osteoporosis
However, since osteoporosis is more common in women, it is always good to think about having a good diet, preferably rich in calcium and vitamin D. Some foods that can help both in preventing the disease and in the treatment to strengthen your bones are:
- Milk and milk products
- Fish like sardines, salmon and tuna.
- Nuts and chestnuts
- Vegetable seasonings like basil and oregano
- Cod liver oil
- Liver Steak
It is true that osteoporosis is more common in women than in men, but that in no way means that you will develop the disease more abruptly, as much of the development also depends on habits that you have had throughout your life. Therefore, it is always good to prevent osteoporosis as soon as possible so that nothing serious happens when you start to feel that you may have this problem.
It is inevitable that at some point in your life your bones will become weaker, but that does not mean that you will be affected by a case of strong osteoporosis and that this will disrupt your life. In most cases, a good treatment combined with all the precautions and precautions taken correctly, provide a peaceful life even for those who suffer from osteoporosis constantly.
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My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
