Osteoporosis: when bones are brittle

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder that is characterized by a commitment to the strength of the bone with an increased risk of fractures. In the U.S., eight million women and two million men have osteoporosis and it is estimated that half of women and a quarter of men older than 50 years of age will suffer a fracture related to osteoporosis throughout his life .

Risk factors for osteoporosis fractures are Caucasian or Asian in postmenopausal women, personal history of osteoporosis or fractures during adulthood, family history of fracture, for a minor trauma, and bajita constitution thin, smoking and older. Other risk factors include dementia, poor health, estrogen deficiency at an early age (under 45 years) and / or frequent falls, poor intake of calcium throughout life, little physical activity and excessive use of alcohol.

Osteoporosis may have a primary cause or be associated with secondary causes such as metabolic disturbances and gastrointestinal diseases, liver, kidney or neurological. He has paid particular attention to dietary disorders that can contribute to the problem, such as calcium deficiency and vitamin D. Treatment should include calcium in the diet with a recommended dose of 1200 mg daily in men and women over 50, and doses varied from the first year of life. Foods high in calcium are milk, dairy products, salmon, sardines with its bone china and juice fortified with calcium. Moreover, vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. In patients over 50 years, vitamin D should be 800 to 1000 IU per day. Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin to exposure to sunlight or can be obtained from food.

The role of exercise in treating and preventing osteoporosis is vital. Benefits include: reduction in the risk of falls, increasing the mass of bone strength, increased muscle strength and improve balance, flexibility and posture, among others. We encourage acuaeróbicos s for the effectiveness of the resistance effort with water and decreasing the risk of trauma.

The treatment against osteoporosis may include drugs that act as antiresortivos, inhibiting cell destruction as bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, zolendronico acid), calcitonin, estrogen therapy / hormone, anabolic drugs raloxifene or that promote the formation cell (PTH1 - 34 teriparatide). The same must be evaluated and discussed with your doctor so that you can design a system according to their need and diagnosis.