Talking About Health And Medical Care

No matter how you plan, prepare, and live your life, you may develop conditions that affect your physical and emotional well being. Osteoporosis may be a disease of the bones, but this disease is responsible for a great deal of discomfort and bone fractures, which result in more pain and even immobility. Even though it is common, most people do not understand osteoporosis. With this guide, you will learn a few interesting facts about this disease.

It Affects People of All Ages

One of the most common misconceptions people have about osteoporosis is that it affects elderly women only. This is a myth that should be addressed because the condition can affect people of all ages.

Osteoporosis affects around 200 million women across the globe, but men can also develop this condition. Unfortunately, the condition is often undiagnosed in men because most do not realize they can suffer from this weakening of the bones.

Symptoms Vary From Person to Person

Another interesting fact about osteoporosis is that each person's symptoms vary from another person with the condition. In the early stages, most people do not experience any signs. However, the disease progresses, eventually causing the one or more of the following symptoms:

• Back pain
• Stooped posture, hunchback
• Decreased height

Osteoporosis also increases the risk of bone fractures. If you or a loved one seems to fracture bones easier compared to others, it may be due to the loss of bone mass which occurs in patients with osteoporosis.

Again, not everyone will experience the above symptoms, but if you are noticing any of these signs, talk to your doctor right away.

Treatments Are Available

One of the greatest facts you need to know about this disease is that treatment is available. In most cases, your doctor will prescribe you a series of medications and suggest a few lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of fractures.

Bisphosphonates are the most common medications prescribed to patients with osteoporosis because they slow down and prevent the loss of bone mass and density. This will stop the progression of the disease while protecting you from bone fractures that could be debilitating.

Eating calcium-rich foods is also helpful, since calcium and vitamin D strengthen bones. If you are aged 50 years or younger, you should be consuming 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D each day to protect your bones. As you age, you should increase this intake.

Osteoporosis is a serious condition that should be understood. Talk to your doctor to learn more preventative tips or to undergo treatment, such as Radius, for this serious disease of the bones.