Bone Density - The Only Way to Detect Osteoporosis Precisely

Osteoporosis is one disease which can take over your entire life without really killing you. The fact that a person has osteoporosis means that he or she will have to make many changes in life, including lifestyle changes, in order to stop the progress of the disease. However, a person does not know when he or she is going to develop osteoporosis as it can occur anytime without the person knowing. A diagnosis is only made after the person starts sustaining fractures from minor or small injuries.

Although there are some symptoms like gradual but steady reduction in height, sever back ache and evident changes in the posture, the condition only becomes apparent after you start breaking your bones. However, there is a way to test whether you are getting osteoporosis and by undergoing this examination, you can start taking preventive or curative measures. This medical test is known as bone density test.

In bone density testing, a device is fitted to your body and this device then reads the bone mineral density. Once the bone mineral density is known, a doctor can tell you what your chances are of breaking bones.

The device that is now used to check bone density is known as Bone Densitometer. This device is more reliable than an ordinary X-ray where you have to first lose 30 percent of your bone density before osteoporosis is detected. In fact, bone densitometry can also give a doctor the future likelihood of a patient developing osteoporosis. Bone densitometry is the most widely used method in the world for detecting osteoporosis and by this method you can even reverse the loss of bone density as it can be detected early on and you have sufficient time to start supplements or make the necessary changes in your lifestyle.

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Your Body and osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the weakening of the body's bones due to a number of things both physical and external in nature. Osteoporosis is estimated to affect over 30 million people in the USA and Canada. A staggering 2 million people over the age of 45 experience bone fractures due to osteoporosis, Osteoporosis is (excess bone mass reduction) mainly in the vertebral spinal column, wrist and hips.

Osteoporosis affects women more than men because women have less bone mass then men do, and begin to lose bone mass far earlier. Up to age 35 men and women have equal bone stability. For woman the most rapid rate of bone loss occurs in the first five years after menopause. Beginning around age 45 when body hormone supplies undergo a dramatic change virtually all women lose 5% to 10% of bone mass during this period. The rate of bone loss then drops to about 1% per year. The good news for men is men don't experience bone loss until after the age of 70, but once they do contract osteoporosis the condition can be severe.

Causes of osteoporosis are caused by decreased levels of estrogens and progesterone, Hormones that play important roles in bone building. The disease of osteoporosis can also result from poor diet and insufficient exercise. The North American of processed foods, carbonated soft drinks, caffeine, high protein sugars and salt consumption can promote osteoporosis. Process foods lead directly to calcium loss because these foods are nutrient deficient, this in turn stimulates a need for protein which eaten in high amounts, can cause the body to lose calcium. The relationship between protein and calcium loss has been known to researchers since 1920. One problem with protein is the body cannot store protein, protein breaks down and one of the by products of protein is ammonia and acids which need to be buffered by calcium. Ammonia prevents calcium from being reabsorbed by the Kidneys. The acids which need to be buffered by calcium, also depletes bones of this vital mineral. Another source of calcium loss is a high sodium diet. Sugar has been linked to loss of calcium as well and can cause metabolic problems that eventually lead to mineral imbalances. Soft drinks and caffeine also puts bones at risk, consuming large amounts of soft drinks and caffeine increases calcium excretion in the urine, but also allows more calcium to be secreted into the gastrointestinal tract. Drinking 3 or more cups of coffee a day increase the risk of osteoporosis by 82%.

Environmental factors of our polluted world is another contributor to the wide spread incidence osteoporosis. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, tin, and aluminum which are used in most products used daily are all culprit. Acid rain is also a culprit in osteoporosis as it leaches heavy metals out of bedrock into our drinking water. Acid rain makes our drinking water more acidic which in turn challenges our bodies buffering capacity drawing calcium out of bones to provide alkalinity for balance. All this can lead to osteoporosis. There are many other risk factors such as insufficient calcium absorption.

The problem with most Calcium pills is that they are large and hard to swallow and are very hard to absorb into the body. Large calcium pills are pressed into their shape by 30000lbs presses making it very hard for your body to absorb all of the calcium that your body needs. For calcium to be absorbed you also need vitamin D and adequate hydrochloric acid (HCI) in the stomach.
A broad spectrum of antibiotics used to treat a variety of diseases can often deplete normal intestinal flora that supplies the body with vitamin K which is needed in building of bones.
Everybody needs s calcium in their diet daily but most people hate to take those large pills. My company Leading Edge Coaching is associated with a health and wellness company that has a product that will change the way we take our calcium. This new product is called CAL (short for calcium) a product that taste great (Chocolate Orange) and you can take it daily. It is not a pill, juice, or powder; instead it is in a revolutionary gel pack. In this gel form a 93% absorption rate into the body is possible with the gel pack, a much better absorption rate then the pill, juices, or powders that only have a 30% absorption rate. This revolutionary calcium product is an essential mineral for many regular body activities including blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretions of hormones and enzymes. The routing of all messages throughout the nervous system and the maintence of healthy bones in the body. Extensive studies have shown that 75% of people do not get the required daily intake of calcium, meaning that their bodies could take more calcium from their bones then they are depositing into their bodies.

Until now most people seeking to add calcium to their wellness plan had to swallow large size horse-pills that just taste plain bad and are hard to swallow. Our product of calcium in a gel form taste like a chocolate orange flavoured candy treat that you get at Christmas, which is so much better tasting then any pill, juice or powder. I have even had people tell me that it taste like a tootsies roll. This new nutritional gel supplement is a must for anybody who needs to take a calcium product or just wants to keep their daily intake of calcium in their diets.

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Treatment For Osteoporosis and Menopause

It has been seen that osteoporosis is quite common in menopausal and postmenopausal women. Most women who enter menopause may not even realize that their bone density is substantially reduced until they suffer from a fracture which will necessitate a trip to the doctor.

There are many treatment options available for menopausal women who suffer from osteoporosis. Their doctors can put them on medications like Risedronate, Alendronate or Calcitonin. Or, they can opt for a diet that is rich in calcium and Vitamin D. No matter what treatment regimen you choose to help with osteoporosis, make sure you combine it with exercise. In addition, if you smoke, you should stop immediately as smoking is one of the factors for causing osteoporosis. The other treatments offered to menopausal women are estrogen therapy, Biphosphonate, weight bearing exercises and Teriparatide in the form of injections.

There are certain medical conditions that can cause osteoporosis. Therefore, doctors may perform a series to tests to rule out these underlying medical conditions. In case, anything is found, it will be treated and you will notice an immediate improvement in your osteoporosis.

Along with the treatment offered for osteoporosis, doctors also recommend that you bring about changes to your lifestyle. This includes stopping alcohol and cigarettes completely, doing regular exercise. You should also seek different medications incase the medications you are on are known triggers of osteoporosis. For instance, long and sustained use of steroids can cause osteoporosis.

Remember, menopause does not necessarily result into osteoporosis. There are certain risk factors involved. If you can do away with them, you can lead a normal and healthy life like anyone else.

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Osteoporosis, What is the Important Factors couse it?

There are many factors that can cause osteoporosis and some of the most common ones are listed below. This information will allow you to assess your chances of developing osteoporosis and where ever possible you can try and reduce the risk factors.

Important Factors that Cause Osteoporosis:

• Age is one the biggest risk factors. The chances of getting osteoporosis increases with age. Women are prone to osteoporosis after the age of 45 while for men it is around 65 years and above.
• Women are more likely to get osteoporosis compared to men as they have thinner and lighter bones compared to men.
• Although osteoporosis can affect any race, it has been seen that it is more prevalent in Caucasian women.
• If there is a history of osteoporosis in your family, the chances of getting the disease are high.
• Smoking increases the chances of developing osteoporosis.
• Too much alcohol causes bone density to reduce as the loss of bone mass is greater than bone formation. However, drinking alcohol in moderation can help to increase bone density according to latest studies carried out.
• Drinking soft drinks in high amounts can cause osteoporosis as these drinks have high contents of phosphoric acid which hinders the absorption of calcium.
• Deficiency in calcium and vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis.
• Taking steroids for a long period of time can cause osteoporosis. In fact, this is the single major factor of osteoporosis in men.
• Not doing regular exercise can cause the bones to weaken and this can ultimately lead to osteoporosis.
• Drinking copious amount of caffeine increases the chance of developing osteoporosis. Therefore, it is advisable to cut down on drinks like tea, coffee and coke.
• Crash dieting leads to malnutrition and creates a deficiency of important nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. This can increase the chances of getting osteoporosis.

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Natural Treatments for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects both men and women. It is a degenerative disease where the bone density starts reducing over a period of time. There are many treatment options available that can help with the side effects of the disease but many people prefer to try natural osteoporosis treatments as they prefer them to taking drugs and medications.

Natural Osteoporosis Treatments:

One of the best natural treatments available for osteoporosis is changing your diet. If you are suffering from this degenerative disease, make sure you consume foods rich in calcium to supplement the loss that is taking place. Try to maintain a diet consisting of vegetables and fruits. In addition, eat minimum quantities of saturated fats and trans fats. This is will help you treat the condition and if you start early enough, you will prevent it from occurring.

Another natural method to prevent and treat osteoporosis is to exercise regularly. This will keep your bones healthy and strong. Make sure you combine exercising with a healthy diet and you can prevent osteoporosis from taking over your life.

You can also fight osteoporosis by taking supplements of calcium and Vitamin D. Both these supplements are known to prevent loss of bone density. You can also take multi-vitamins to combat osteoporosis, if you wish. However, it is advisable to include foods that are rich in calcium and Vitamin D in your diet so that you do not have to take supplements. But, if you are still interested in taking supplements, take only those that come from a reliable source.

It is not always necessary to treat osteoporosis with medications and drugs. There are natural treatment options available that can help you improve the quality of your life if you are suffering from osteoporosis.

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Treat Osteoporosis? How Doctors do?

Fosamax is a bisphosphonate drug used for osteoporosis and several other bone diseases. It is marketed alone as well as in combination with vitamin D under the name Fosavance.

Side-effects GI tract: most prominent are harmless side effects such as mild nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhea, or obstipation. A severe side effect is an ulceration of the esophagus caused by alendronate, which may require hospitalization and intensive treatment. Gastric and duodenal ulceration.

General: infrequent cases of skin rash, rarely manifesting as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, eye problems (uveitis, scleritis) and generalized muscle, joint, and bone pain (rarely severe) have been seen. In laboratory tests decreased calcium and phosphate values may be obtained but reflect action of the drug and are harmless.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw, a recognised side-effect of bisphosphonates.

Dosage Prophylaxis of osteoporosis in women: 5-10mg daily or 35-70mg weekly.

Therapy of osteoporosis in women and men : 10mg daily or 70mg weekly.

Osteoporosis under corticosteroids: 5mg daily or 35mg weekly in men and premenopausal women or those receiving concomitant HRT. In postmenopausal women not receiving HRT the recommended dose is 10mg daily or 70mg weekly.

Paget's Disease: 40mg daily for 6 months.

The drug is to be taken only upon rising for the day with plenty of water. Stand, walk or sit 30 minutes afterwards to avoid esophageal damage. At least 30 minutes should be waited before meals or other beverages than water are taken in.

Interactions Milk, diet and drugs containing high amounts of calcium, magnesium or aluminium (antacids): the resorption of alendronate is decreased. At least half an hour should pass after intake of alendronate before taking the supplement or drug.

Highly active vitamin D analogues or fluorides: no data is available. Concomitant treatment should be avoided.

The additional beneficial effect of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) with estrogens/progestins or raloxifene in postmenopausal women remains to be elucidated, but no interactions have been seen. The combination is therefore possible.

Intravenous ranitidine increases the oral bioavailability of alendronate. No clinical consequences are known.

The combination of NSAIDS and alendroate increases the risk of gastric ulcers. Both these drugs have the potential to irritate the upper gastro-intestinal mucosa.

Does Merck have a patent on this drug?

Yes, but the patent is set to expire in 2008 and Merck has lost a series of appeals to block a generic version of the drug from being certified by the US FDA.

Disclaimer: The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to your doctor to learn more about Fosamax.

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What is Vitamin A? What are the Benefits of Vitamin A?

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that is best known for its positive effects on helping the eyes adjust to changes in the light. Vitamin A contributes to the overall health of the eyes, the skin and the mucous membranes. This particular vitamin, which is also commonly referred to as Retinol, can be mostly found in animal food sources, but there are also a number of plant based food sources that supply beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A within the body. Vitamin A is also generally regarded as an excellent antioxidant, which means that it is responsible for neutralizing the free radicals within the body that cause damage to cells and tissue.

It has been suggested by scientific studies in the past that beta carotene and Vitamin A can help people who have Coronary Artery Disease or CAD. However, it is not recommended that beta carotene or Vitamin A supplements be taken for this purpose yet, until more scientific research can be conducted. It is already known that Vitamin A and beta carotene have a positive effect on the body, though it is not yet known what exactly Vitamin A can do for the body, especially when it comes to Coronary Artery Disease or CAD.

Vitamins are most commonly categorized based on what materials they can be dissolved in, and for that reason, Vitamin A is categorized as a fat soluble vitamin. Other fat soluble vitamins include vitamins D, E and K. The alternative is vitamins that are water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are stored within the fat tissue in the body, and they can be stored from as little as a few days until as many as six months. If you ingest too much of a fat soluble vitamin, it can be stored in the wrong place such as your liver, which can cause problems in your body. Fat soluble vitamins should never be taken in large doses, as this can lead to toxicity issues.

There are actually a number of health problems that make it difficult for people to absorb vitamins like Vitamin A. It is important to know how vitamin absorption will be affected by chronic health conditions. It is also important to know how much Vitamin A you need to consume for your optimum health. It is generally recommended that women consume around 800 mcg of Vitamin A, and that men consume 1000 mcg of Vitamin A daily for optimum health. Luckily, there are a number of sources of Vitamin A available, including beef liver, cheddar cheese, fortified milk, egg yolk, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, broccoli, apricots, cantaloupe and spinach or other collared greens.

Vitamin A deficiencies are not all too common in the United States, but when this vitamin deficiency does occur, it can cause night blindness, inflammation of the eyes, diarrhea and a variety of other problems. Over consuming vitamin A on the other hand can cause problems relating to irritability, nausea, blurred vision and many other issues. Someone who takes too much vitamin A can have their feet and hands turn orange. Serious Vitamin A toxicity can cause hair loss, an enlarged spleen and liver, and even growth retardation in severe forms. For this very reason, it is important for you to understand how much vitamin A you are getting in your diet. If you are getting enough vitamin A and beta carotene in your food products, there is no need to take a vitamin supplement.

If you want to get the most amounts of vitamins possible from your foods, then you should immediately refrigerate your fresh produce products, and should keep milk and grain products out of strong amounts of light. The vitamins in your foods are easily washed out or destroyed during the food preparation and storage processes. If you are taking your vitamin A in the form of a supplement, you should make sure to store them in a cool and dry place that has no excess moisture.

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