Osteoporosis symptoms and osteoporosis treatment
Osteoporosis is a condition that is associated with the loss of born material. Because of such loss, the bones tend to get weak as well as thin. If the bones are weak it also means that they are prone to fracturing at any moment. This disease is most common in females than males. It is most common in females because of the hormonal changes that occur in women who are going through menopause. The following is important information regarding osteoporosis symptoms and osteoporosis treatment.
Osteoporosis symptoms
Because this is a progressive condition, most symptoms are experienced once the disease has already reached its advanced stages. That is why it is very common to find that most people that suffer from this condition actually have no clue that they have it until something happens that makes them realize that they have it. One of the main symptoms of this condition is a fracture. If you get a fracture from making an everyday movement such as bending down, that could be an indication that your bones are weak and that you have osteoporosis.
People that have a severe case of this disease can get fractures from doing simple things such as coughing or sneezing. This means that the individual will have an extremely low bone density. A different, but very common osteoporosis symptom is back pain. The pain can be in the upper or lower back. Other osteoporosis symptoms include unexplained joint pain and loss of height. Sometimes, if the individual has a severe case of osteoporosis, the joint pain can be so bad that it is almost impossible to move.
Although this might not be an automatic indication of the disease, it is better to have it checked so that you can rule out osteoporosis. Another common symptom is not being able to sit or stand up straight. Other symptoms can be cramps and fingernails that are brittle.
Osteoporosis treatment
There are preventative treatments that are available to people that suffer from this condition. One of them is an optimal diet which includes the sufficient calories, calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients help with the maintenance of bone density and formation. Another preventative treatment is taking protein supplements. These supplements are particularly helpful to those individuals that have already had a fracture. If you drink too much alcohol you increase your chances of falling and getting fractures. If your bones are already weak, this can cause very serious structures. That is why it is advised not to drink too much alcohol.
Further, there are medications that are available for the treatment of this condition. Long term therapy with particular medications has been shown to increase bone density. Examples of such medications include Glucocorticoid medicines, Heparin and some antiepileptic medication. Drug therapy is known to benefit those people that have the highest risk of getting a fracture. It is important to first discuss these treatment methods with a doctor before you start incorporating them. With prolonged osteoporosis treatment, you are sure to see some results.
