Osteoporosis and Women

About 80 percent of the women in India have been affected by Osteoporosis and is seen prevalent in the age group of 40 to 60. As the name indicates 'porous bones' [“osteo – bones, porosis –porus], is disease that occurs due to aging and weakening of the Bones. One of the main factors of this disease is the change in Lifestyle and ingesting unhealthy foods that is grown using pesticides and insecticides.

How does Osteoporosis occur and its symptoms

As with other parts of body like skin, hair and nails, even our bones change constantly removing the old cells and rebuilding new ones as a part of growing and living process. For this, the bones require two kinds of cells which plays an important role in this process namely osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoclasts help to renew old bone by dissolving or reabsorbing it and leaving an empty space in the process. On the other hand, the osteoblasts fill the empty space with new bone. If the rate of renewal does not equal the rate of breakdown, bone loss occurs. If this continues over years, the result is osteoporosis.

Symptoms are seen mainly during on or before menopause stage wherein a women body shows an imbalance in hormonal changes. Also, sudden sharp pain in hand and legs are some symptoms to be noticed. Also certain medication, heredity, digestive problems, food habits, lack of exercise, weight as well as irregular periods are some causes that give rise to osteoporosis

Treatment

A best treatment is to have a healthy life style which is very less when compared to decades back in India. As a result, intake of Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement comes to rescue. Intake of Vitamin D which helps to regulate blood levels of both calcium and phosphorus , Vitamin C which builds up collagen, which is a sort of 'cement' that holds the bone matrix (the architecture of the bone) together and Calcium which is important for bones health helps to restore bones to normal . Folic acid also helps to reduce the homocysteine which is associated with an increase in bone loss in the blood.

Women should do exercise which is extremely important in the prevention of osteoporosis. Excercise like walking, doing the house hold chores , climbing stairs and bending helps in making the bones strong. Above all, intake of healthy foods and milk or any other source of calcium everyday helps women to have a healthy aging.