What Is Osteoporosis And Its Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

More and more people suffer from osteoporosis at younger ages. For this reason, it is important to know this disease thoroughly, especially if we have a family history that suffers from it. In this way, we can prevent it with natural remedies.

Discover in this article what osteoporosis is, what are its usual causes and symptoms, as well as its treatment and remedies that will help us prevent it in time.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that is characterized by a decrease in the density of bone mass. This pathology causes the bones to become more fragile and porous. As a result, these lose resistance to shock and predisposes them to suffer some type of fracture or microfracture more easily.

Bone weakness is localized, especially in the hip, spine, and wrists.

Osteoporosis is a chronic and progressive disease that affects 0.6% of the world population. Women are four times more likely than men to develop this condition. In this sense, they are the ones who should take preventive measures, especially when they reach menopause.

Causes

The most frequent causes that can lead to osteoporosis are the following:

• Age: As we get closer to old age the bones tend to lose strength.
• Menopause: with the arrival of the climacteric and menopause, hormonal changes increase the predisposition to suffer osteoporosis. It will be necessary to monitor more, therefore, factors such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, overweight and the consumption of medications such as corticosteroids.
• Diet low in calcium: calcium is an essential mineral that provides the nutrients needed to fortify bones. It is found in milk and dairy products, bluefish and nuts, among other foods.
• Sedentary lifestyle: the usual practice of exercise helps bones have correct densitometric levels.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol and coffee.
• Race: there is a greater tendency to osteoporosis in people of Caucasian and Asian origin.
• Gastrointestinal surgery: stomach reduction operations limit the intestinal area where nutrients such as calcium are absorbed.
• Other possible less known causes are: intolerance to gluten, men with low testosterone, important liver diseases or even professional sports and high performance in women.

symptom

Osteoporosis also receives the nickname Silent Epidemic, since, in general, it does not present identifiable symptoms. It is usually discovered when a bone fracture has already occurred and, therefore, prevention is already too late.

However, if the deterioration of the bones is already considerable or important, the following symptoms or signs appear:

• Buckling of the column.
• Loss of height.
• Predisposition to bone fracture.

How to diagnose osteoporosis?

To diagnose this disease, several clinical tests are necessary:

• First, a detailed clinical history of the patient and his family history are made.
• A physical examination is performed.
• Blood and urine samples are taken for further analysis.
• In addition, x-rays of the spine are performed to evaluate the possible deformity or curvature.
• The test par excellence to diagnose the density and condition of the affected bone is densitometry.

Treatment

The treatment to fight this disease varies according to the patient and his medical history. Apart from medication, this therapy involves a change in lifestyle.

The function of most anti-osteoporosis drugs is to delay the breakdown of bones.  The choice of one or the other treatment, made by the doctor, depends on the response to the medication by the patient, its correct administration, and even the costs.

The use of bisphosphonate tablets is common, since it has been shown to reduce the possibility of bone fracture.

Natural alternatives

To avoid bone wear, we recommend taking these supplements regularly:

• Magnesium.
• Liquid organic silicon.
• Homeopathic Remedy Calcium Phosphoricum.
• Horsetail.
• Maca
• Nutritional yeast or brewer’s yeast

In addition, from a holistic and natural perspective, it is essential to take the sun daily for 10 minutes to improve the assimilation of calcium through vitamin D. If this is not possible, we can also take vitamin D3.