What is osteoporosis? What causes it ? How can it be prevented?
144375
Osteoporosis, bone condition characterized by a decrease in mass, resulting in bones that are more porous and more easily fractured than normal bones. Fractures of the wrist, spine, and hip are most common; however, all bones can be affected. White females are the most susceptible, but other risk factors include low calcium intake; inadequate physical activity; certain drugs, such as corticosteroids; and a family history of the disease.\n\nThe most common form of the disease, primary osteoporosis, includes postmenopausal, or estrogen-deficient, osteoporosis (Type I), which is observed in women whose ovaries have ceased to produce the hormone estrogen; age-related osteoporosis (Type II), which affects those over the age of 70; and idiopathic osteoporosis, a rare disorder of unknown cause that affects premenopausal women and men who are middle-aged or younger. Secondary osteoporosis may be caused by bone disuse as a result of paralysis or other conditions, including weightlessness in space; endocrine and nutritional disorders, including anorexia nervosa; specific disease processes; and certain drug therapies. \n\nRecent research has shown that the development of osteoporosis is also related to a gene that determines the type of vitamin D receptor (VDR) a person inherits. The VDR gene exists in two forms, one of which produces a receptor that stores calcium more efficiently than the other. People who inherit two copies of the more efficient VDR gene develop high bone densities. Those who inherit two copies of the less efficient gene have somewhat less strong bones.\n\nPrevention and treatment of osteoporosis include synthetic estrogen or progestin therapy or both for postmenopausal women, intake of calcium and other nutrients, weight-bearing exercise, and drugs such as calcitonin and alendronate sodium, a nonhormonal treatment for osteoporosis. In December 1997 a new synthetic estrogen called raloxifene was approved for treating osteoporosis. Like other estrogen therapies, raloxifene increases bone density, but with fewer side effects than earlier types of synthetic estrogen.
432894
Boniva, it's a once a month pill, and Vitamin D is good for women and osteoporosis!  Plus, you can get vitamin D from the sun, so enjoy some time outside along with proper medications, it's fun and it's free!
134756
Older people have less effective healing and immunity because of poorer nutrition many times, poorer health (diabetes, heart disease, etc), etc.\n\nIf a bone breaks (especially hips/pelvis, etc) there is a high risk of death from respiratory infections from being immobile from trying to heal.
152393
Vitamin D helps bones absorb Calcium, which makes them stronger.
758803
might just be stress.....but you might want to see a doc and if you're under the age of 25 you might want to have a bone density scan as the shot has been know to deplete bone density which can lead to osteoporosis later in life...younger women tend to make up the bone density if they go off the shot..but older ladies tend to loose it for good.....hope that's a bit of a help....
1169566
This site explains why Americans have so much osteoporosis while in poor countries they have very little and the thing that you missing. Hint-- the thing you are missing is free. You can't buy it. It comes to you from a hundred million miles away!
1073312
X-Ray I have osteoporosis and have broken countless major bone and often didn't know it until I was X-Rayed days late. Last year I literally shattered my kneecap in Too many fragments to count and I wouldn't have even known if I had not said something to the Dr. for an unrelated visit.
872981
At your age if you get nothing else get folic acid (to prevent birth defects when you decide to have children, you need to have it already in place.  And calcium.  None of us get enough calcium and for women it is especially important to prevent or at least slow down osteoporsis.  Not many multiviamins have enough calcium in them.
158907
Calcium and Phosphorus levels are regulated by calcitonin from the thyroid gland and parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid glands.  In a healthy individual, calcium and phosphorus have an inverse relationship, that means that when one goes up, the other goes down.  Serum calcium tends to decrease i people who have osteoporosis or inadequate intake of calcium.  Calcium needs Vitamin D to aid in absorption.  Eat foods high in calcium, or take supplements with both Vit D and Calcium. Calcium supplements should be taken 1-2 hrs after a meal to increase intestinal absorption.\nIs your low calcium-high phosphorus levels caused by an underlying condition, such as renal failure, Crohn's disease, or chronic inflammatory bowel disease?  Is it caused by improper functioning of the thyroid and parathyroid glands? If so, the underlying condition must be treated in order for the mineral balance to be restored, thus allowing more calcium to be absorbed.\nSee your Doctor, to treat the underlying problem, then add calcium and Vit D to your diet.
683164
The gradual degeneration of bones.  It is mainly associated with decreased levels of estrogen in women, old age, decreased calcium and vitamin D intake and a lack of weight bearing exercise. It can happen to men but usually affects post menopausal women.
322692
There are two primary hormones that affect bone metabolism:\ncalcitonin and parathyroid hormone.\n\nCalcitonin is released when blood calcium levels are high and (1) promotes calcium incorporation into bone and (2) blocks the liberation of calcium from bone. You can think of calcitonin as a bone sparer.\n\nParathryoid hormone is released when blood calcium levels are low and tends to liberate calcium from bone.  You can think of parathyroid hormone as a bone degrader.\n\nThere are other hormones that impact bone metabolism, these include thyroid hormone and estrogen.\n\nThe primary nutritive requirements for healthy bone metabolism are dietary calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D that helps you to absorb the calcium from foods.
260943
Us Women need to take calcium and Vit D supplements for the rest of our lives!  Women are prone to lose more calcium than men, because of the loss of blood (containing calcium) in menstruation each month. \n\nA woman also loses much calcium with each pregnancy. A pregnant mother loses 4 times as much calcium to her baby, as she would in nine menstrual cycles. (Women, get your calcium!)\n\nWhen your body loses this much calcium, your bones become porous and brittle. They are not as strong, and can break under very little pressure. Then it causes a disease called OSTEOPOROSIS. \n\nPatients most often don't even know they have osteoporosis until the condition is serious. Warning signs of osteoporosis include, backache, back muscle spasms, thigh bones aching, difficulty in twisting and bending.\n\nAlso, we need Vit D . Remember that vitamin D stimulates the production of calcium binding proteins in the digestive tract. We need Vit D to be able to absorb calcium in our system.
750798
The best way to prevent disease is to have a strong immune system.\n\nThis is acheived by a healthy diet that avoids animal products, processed food and sugar, good exercise for an hour per day, regular sleep, sunshine, and love.\n\nIf you have all those, you will not get diseases.
420217
Osteopenia refers to bone mineral density (BMD) that is lower than normal peak BMD but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis. Bone mineral density is a measurement of the level of minerals in the bones, which indicates how dense and strong they are. If your BMD is low compared to normal peak BMD, you are said to have osteopenia. Having osteopenia means there is a greater risk that, as time passes, you may develop BMD that is very low compared to normal, known as osteoporosis.\n\nSome people who have osteopenia may not have bone loss; they may just naturally have a lower bone density. Osteopenia may also be the result of a wide variety of other conditions, disease processes, or treatments. Women are far more likely to develop osteopenia and osteoporosis than men. This is because women have a lower peak BMD and because the loss of bone mass speeds up as hormonal changes take place at the time of menopause. In both men and women, the following factors can all contribute to osteopenia: \n\nEating disorders or metabolism problems that do not allow the body to take in and use enough vitamins and minerals \nChemotherapy, or medications such as steroids used to treat a number of conditions, including asthma \nExposure to radiation \nHaving a family history of osteoporosis, being thin, being white or Asian, getting limited physical activity, smoking, regularly drinking cola drinks, and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol also increase the risk of osteopenia and, eventually, osteoporosis.\nWhether you will tend to develop osteopenia is, in part, already determined. Things like whether you have any family members who have had osteoporosis or osteopenia, whether you have chronic asthma that requires you to take steroids, and how much calcium and vitamin D you got while you were growing up are beyond your control now. However, if you are a young adult or if you are raising children, there are things you can do to help develop strong bones and help slow down osteopenia and prevent osteoporosis.\n\nYour bones don't reach their greatest density until you are about 30 years old, so for children and people younger than 30, anything that helps increase bone density will have long-term benefits. To maximize bone density, make sure you get plenty of calcium and vitamin D through your diet and by spending a little time in the sun, get weight-bearing exercise on a regular basis, don't smoke, and avoid excessive alcohol or cola drinks. If you have children, teach them to make a nutritious diet and exercise part of their normal routine, make sure they play a little in the sunshine to help their bodies make more vitamin D, and help them avoid smoking and alcohol as they get older.\n\nIf you're older than 30, it's still not too late to make these lifestyle changes. A balanced diet and regular exercise will help slow the loss of bone density, delay osteopenia, and delay or prevent osteoporosis.
385516
No, it's not.  You need more than just calcium if you are experiencing a weakness of bone.  You need vitamin D as well.  Try taking Viactic as the other answer says.  And regular checkups with your doctor are important to make sure you do not have osteoporosis.
410473
You say you are not fat but having big bones and say you are tall. That means that extra weight is due to your bones. Better do not  take medicines to reduce weight. Since they will have side effects which may at times dangerous and when you stop them you may regain your weight. Dieting and exercise are the best to reduce weight. If it is due to bones do not try to reduce the weight. Go ahead normally.
232400
First of all make sure you have been evaluated by a medical professional to see if there is some reaosn you are losing bone.  Then make sure that you are getting sufficient calcium, aim for at least 1200 mg a day.  Do weight bearing exercises, walking, running, lifting weights etc.  Swimming is good exercise but does not build bone mass.  Have your bone density checked and schedule a follow-up with your provider to make sure that your efforts are working.  Bones are precious.  Take care of yours!