2009-05-02 04:47:50
Today's women face a multitude of health risks, but among the most prevalent is a condition called osteoporosis. An excessive loss of calcium causes this disease, and results in bones that become brittle and easily fractured.
Osteoporosis Targets Women
Some men are at risk of developing osteoporosis, but the disease is most often found in women. Women over the age of forty are most likely to develop the disease, following the onset of menopause. Women naturally produce less estrogen during and after menopause, and because estrogen helps our bodies to retain calcium, it is instrumental in keeping bones strong. It's important for women to supplement their calcium intake in order to retain their bone density during, and after, menopause.
While males may also be affected by osteoporosis, the number of men afflicted with the condition is found at a much lower rate than women. The reason for this is that men tend to have more bone mass than women. Even so, the natural aging process can cause osteoporosis to develop in men, as well as women.
The most prominent risk factors for developing osteoporosis are being female, and roughly menopause age. Additionally, Caucasian females appear to be at a greater risk. Osteoporosis also tends to affect individuals with reduced muscular activity. Being underweight can be a contributing factor, so those with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia often find themselves at greater risk of developing the disease. Finally, a family history of osteoporosis is a major risk factor. If you know that osteoporosis runs in your family, making changes to your lifestyle can help protect you from developing this condition.
Osteoporosis is Hard to Diagnose
Early diagnosis and preliminary treatment of osteoporosis can be tricky, because many people don't realize they have the condition until they suffer from some kind of injury. Patients will often suffer from a bone fracture before they receive a positive osteoporosis diagnosis.
However, changes in modern women's health care are making it possible to detect the disease in its early stages, and even prevent osteoporosis altogether. New advances in bone scanning make it possible for doctors to test the bone density of their patients. With early detection and treatment, the progress of osteoporosis can be slowed or even stopped before too much damage is done.
If you feel that you are at risk of developing osteoporosis, there are steps that you can take. The first and most important step is to discuss your symptoms and concerns with your doctor or healthcare professional. He or she will take a full medical history and ask you to undergo a complete physical exam. If you appear to be at risk for developing osteoporosis, your doctor should assess your thyroid levels, test for forms of arthritis and order a blood test analysis to check your calcium levels.
Using a special machine called a bone densitometer, your doctor can also take X-rays to view your bone density. This machine provides an expert view into the inside of your bones, and is a painless yet accurate way for doctors to measure your bone density. The test results can help your doctor to determine whether you are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
In the United States, osteoporosis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. Increased education and public attention has, fortunately, led to a greater awareness of the condition. Now, more than ever before, women can fully understand the importance of preventing osteoporosis, and we have greater knowledge of the treatment options available.
Freelancer Sheila Ffloyd writes for a variety of Internet sites, on womens fitness and health fitness themes.
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