Of all the health issues that modern women face, a condition called
osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent. The disease is caused by
excessive loss of calcium in the bones, resulting in brittle and easily
fractured bones.
Who Can Suffer with Osteoporosis?
Some men are at risk of developing osteoporosis, but the disease is
most often found in women. Women over the age of forty are most likely
to develop the disease, following the onset of menopause. Women
naturally produce less estrogen during and after menopause, and because
estrogen helps our bodies to retain calcium, it is instrumental in
keeping bones strong. It's important for women to supplement their
calcium intake in order to retain their bone density during, and after,
menopause.
While males may also be affected by osteoporosis, the number of men
afflicted with the condition is found at a much lower rate than women.
The reason for this is that men tend to have more bone mass than women.
Even so, the natural aging process can cause osteoporosis to develop in
men, as well as women.
Females of menopausal age already fall into the most prominent risk
group for developing osteoporosis. Caucasian women seem to be at a
higher risk. Osteoporosis also tends to affect individuals with
lessened muscular activity. Being underweight can also be a
contributing factor, so those with eating disorders such as anorexia
and bulimia can be more likely to develop the disease. Finally, a
family history of osteoporosis presents a major risk factor. If you
know that osteoporosis runs in your family, make positive lifestyle
changes now to help prevent the condition from developing.
How is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
Early diagnosis and preliminary treatment of osteoporosis can be
tricky, because many people don't realize they have the condition until
they suffer from some kind of injury. Patients will often suffer from a
bone fracture before they receive a positive osteoporosis diagnosis.
However, changes in modern women's health care are making it possible
to detect the disease in its early stages, and even prevent
osteoporosis altogether. New advances in bone scanning make it possible
for doctors to test the bone density of their patients. With early
detection and treatment, the progress of osteoporosis can be slowed or
even stopped before too much damage is done.
If you feel that you are at risk of developing osteoporosis, there are
steps that you can take. The first and most important step is to
discuss your symptoms and concerns with your doctor or healthcare
professional. He or she will take a full medical history and ask you to
undergo a complete physical exam. If you appear to be at risk for
developing osteoporosis, your doctor should assess your thyroid levels,
test for forms of arthritis and order a blood test analysis to check
your calcium levels.
Using a special machine called a bone densitometer, your doctor can
also take X-rays to view your bone density. This machine provides an
expert view into the inside of your bones, and is a painless yet
accurate way for doctors to measure your bone density. The test results
can help your doctor to determine whether you are at risk of developing
osteoporosis.
In the United States, osteoporosis is one of the most common forms of
arthritis. Increased education and public attention has, fortunately,
led to a greater awareness of the condition. Now, more than ever
before, women can fully understand the importance of preventing
osteoporosis, and we have greater knowledge of the treatment options
available.
