Osteoporosis is a condition of bone loss and is dreadful disease that causes many elderly people to suffer from broken bones and fractures of the vertebrae. It also causes one’s height to diminish as they grow older. If not properly treated, this disease can lead to the individual’s loss of independence and a remaining lifetime of debilitating pain.
Osteoporosis treatment first begins with the diagnosis of this disease. The sooner osteoporosis is diagnosed; the sooner osteoporosis treatment can begin. Proper osteoporosis treatment can greatly reduce your chances of having bone fractures. At this time there is no cure for osteoporosis, but there are many treatments that can be used to help avoid the progression of this disease.
Treatments for osteoporosis include the use of such medications as Boniva, Fosamax or Actonel. These prescription medications can help prevent future bone loss. Forteo is another prescription medication that is being used as a treatment too. It actually works to prevent future problems with osteoporosis by building strong bones. There are a few natural products that you can use to increase bone formation also, like progesterone or wild yam cream. You can buy these natural products in the health food stores or from various websites online. You do not need a prescription for these products.
The prescription medications are the most common treatments used. These medications are bisphosphonates which are to be taken on the daily, weekly or monthly basis. Estrogen receptor modulators (SERM’s), strontium and ranelate are a few of the other less common prescription medication treatments.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease and many times people who have been diagnosed with it will forget to continue their osteoporosis treatment. The treatment for osteoporosis will not be effective if it is not continued. The type and duration of treatment will depend on your doctor’s recommendation. Continuing on with your treatment can greatly reduce your risk of future bone loss, fractures and expensive hospital stays. You will also be protecting your appearance and avoiding unnecessary fractures of the spine or hip which can cause you to lose your independence.
Statistics show that one out of every three women over the age of 50 can develop osteoporosis. Women develop this disease more than men because of hormonal changes due to menopause. A woman’s body can be deprived of the essential vitamins and minerals that are needed to prevent osteoporosis. Certain vitamins and minerals taken on a daily basis can be one of the effective forms of osteoporosis treatment that a woman can use. Women need to increase their calcium intake as well as concentrating on eating more fresh fruits and vegetables when they are older. Individuals who have osteoporosis should also include vitamin D3 in their daily supplements as well as calcium.
Men can also suffer from osteoporosis. However, the statistics for men show that only one in 12 develop this condition. Obviously it is considered to be more of a woman’s disease. Smoking can increase the chances for the development of osteoporosis in both sexes. Eating too much red meat can also rob the body of much-needed calcium and cause the body to become too acidic. Increasing dairy intake is also helpful. One effective osteoporosis treatment is to greatly reduce the amount of red meat that you eat. People who have osteoporosis should also stop smoking.
Staying physically active and making sure you get daily exercise is another way to keep your bones healthy and to prevent the progression of this debilitating disease. If you are having any problems with your prescription medications for osteoporosis you should consult with your doctor for ways to improve your treatment. You can also discuss alternative treatments that are available. Your doctor can give you the best advice on what type of osteoporosis treatment is best for you and your condition.
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