Women’s Health Blog

Women’s Health Issues
06 24th, 2010

Osteoporosis, by definition, is a skeletal disorder affecting the bone strength and predisposing it to increased risk of fracture. When the bone tissue degenerates, the person becomes more fragile and susceptible to fractures.

The skeleton is an important part of our system. It is the framework that holds our body upright. The two main components of our bone are collagen protein and calcium phosphate. These two things work hand in hand so that the bone remains hard and strong. Before the age of 30, there is a balance of degeneration and repair. As we get older, we lose the ability to repair. Sadly, the victims of osteoporosis are women.

The female victims are mostly those who have gone through the menopausal stage. At present, millions of women are suffering from this malady. The figures are rising yearly, and more women have to be vigilant about taking care of their health, particularly their bones. There are several known triggers for this ailment. The number one on the list, of course, is the effects of menopause combined with age. Women going through this difficult period experience hormonal imbalance, which in turn, is felt by the bones. Another trigger is genetics. Women who have a family history of osteoporosis are more likely to suffer from it in their old age.

Of course, once osteoporosis sets in, this cant be easily cured. There are ways to avoid it, and the way to do this is to be conscious of your bones health while you are still young. You can significantly lessen your chances of acquiring this debilitating disease when you do the following:

1. Avoid smoking and drinking.
2. Eat healthy.
3. Drink milk regularly.
4. Regular calcium intake.
5. Exercise.
6. Regular checkup.
7. Avoid junk food when you can.

When you begin experiencing neck pain and lower back ache, have yourself checked by the doctor. Osteoporosis, when left untreated, can deform the curve of your spine. The things you once were able to do will no longer be possible because you can now easily break your bones. As it is always said, prevention is much better than cure. Undertaking certain precautions even before the signs reveal themselves can be your best bet. Thus, a good amount of calcium products should be consumed while you are still young. If you are a parent, teach your children to enjoy milk. It not only gives them the nutrients they need, it also readies their bones when they grow older. There is an abundance of calcium products out there in the market. Among which are yogurt, milk, cheese, ice cream, green and leafy vegetables, fish like salmon and sardines, dry fruits like almonds, juices and squash. As a woman, you should be conscious of your health. You are more prone to several diseases simply because it is a part of your DNA. Train your bones to take in stress through exercise. The stronger you are, the harder it becomes for certain ailments and diseases to attack your system.

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Strengthening Your Bones

Author: admin
05 18th, 2010

Bones provide the overall structure and connective tissue that keeps your skin and other organs intact. Without bones, you are unable to lead a physically active life. Fractured bones are always extremely painful, and they compromise quality of life until they are repaired. It is then exceedingly important to maintain healthy bones throughout your lives. The care begins from the time you are young and continuing through the senior years.

A persons bones are at their strongest at ages of 20 to 30 years old. After that, you lose bone continuously for the rest of your lives. Any activity helps keep bones strong, but exercises that put extra pressure on specific areas can give extra benefits. Weightlifting is a very good exercise for strengthening bones. You are never too old to start an exercise program that includes weight training to strengthen your bones. Aim to get 30 minutes daily of moderate exercise like walking, aerobics, or jogging to promote bone health and strengthen them. When you exercise, muscles move against your bones and this will make them both stronger. It does this because it causes new bone tissue to form.

Your bones are constantly changing. Doctors dont understand or know why bone remodeling happens. It takes about 2 to 3 months for a full cycle of bone remodeling to complete. When you are young, your body builds faster. By the time reach your mid 30s, you reach your peak bone mass. Bone remodeling doesnt stop, however. It simply slows down after your peak.

Keeping your bones healthy is a must. It is just as important to starts as soon as you can so that you can prevent any problems later in life. Aside from exercise and weight training, you also need to take in a lot of calcium. By the age of 17, most people have about 90% of their adult bone mass built. As you age, your body will gradually remove and replace small increments of calcium from your bones. If your body cant replace all the calcium it took, then your bones will become weaker. After the age of 18, your body stops taking in calcium. The only way to move forward is to maintain the supply that is already there.

As you all well know, the best source of calcium is milk and dairy products. These products are easy for the body to absorb. Vitamin D helps the body absorb the calcium. Dark green veggies such as broccoli and spinach have a lot of calcium in them as well.

Bones just really need calcium and other nutrients to become and remain strong. Lacking proper nutrition makes everything go downhill. Eventually the bones will begin to decay. This, of course, can lead to serious problems like fractures, falls, and immobility. As the medical community becomes more knowledgeable, they will keep informing people about simple but basic lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact on your skeletal framework.

Ask your doctor what you can do at whatever stage of life you are at to protect and preserve your bones. Following a general plan should have a good effect on your bones. Avoid osteoporosis and take care of what you have before its too late.

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