Helping people with Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak. If not prevented or left without treatment it is likely to break your bone. These mostly occur in the hip, spine and wrist. Hip fractures need hospitalization and major surgery. Such injuries, if remained untreated can lead to permanent disability and even death. Spinal fractures can lead to severe back pain and deformity.

Women are more prone to acquire such disease than men but men do suffer from osteoporosis.

What is NOF???

The National Osteoporosis Foundation is an organization that has a vision to make bone health a reality and a lifelong priority for all individuals. Its mission is to prevent osteoporosis, to promote bone health and to help and cure those affected by this disease. The organization was established in 1984 and is solely dedicated to the bone health and to the cure of osteoporosis.

Risk Factors

There are many factors that determines who will develop the disease. One must determine the risk factors and prevent the disease. The risk factors are:

Age: With the increase in age you are more prone to the disease as along with increase in your age, the bones become weaker.

Gender: Women are more prone to osteoporosis as with the menopause the bones tend to weaken at times and they are more vulnerable to lose bones rapidly.

Family history and personal history of fractures as an adult: Fractures may be as a result of hereditary reasons. Mothers having history of vertebral fractures may also seem to have reduced bone mass.

Racial causes: Women coming from a particular race like Caucasian and Asian are likely to develop the disease. African American and Hispanic women are at significant risk for developing the disease.

Bone structure and body weight: Small boned and thin women are more vulnerable to such a disease.

Menopause: Normal or early menopause increases the risk for early menopause. Women who stop menstruating due to excessive exercise and other factors such as anorexia or bulimia may lose bone tissue and develop this disease.

Lifestyle: Current cigarette smoking and drinking habits and deficiency in calcium and no exercising habits may develop chances for osteoporosis.

Medications: Strong medicines used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine disorders and gastrointestinal diseases have side effects and can have damaging effect.

The following drugs can cause bone loss:

• Excessive thyroid hormones
• Anticonvulsants
• Antacids containing aluminium
• Gonadotropin releasing hormones used for treatment of endometriosis
• Methotrexate for cancer treatment
• Cyclosporine A an immunosuppressive drug
• Heparin and
• Cholestryamine taken to control blood cholesterol levels.

• Calcium though alone is not enough to prevent the disease; it definitely helps to a great extent in reducing the risk. Women are recommended to consume more amount of calcium.
• Exercise is a very effective method to keep the bones active and make it stronger and denser. Bone is a living tissue and it responds readily to exercise and workouts.