Osteoporosis - Article and Test

Osteoporosis: Not Just For Women

By Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D.

October Issue of OC Health Magazine

Osteoporosis has long been thought of as a woman’s problem, but the debilitating disease does not discriminate based on gender.  While nearly 8 million women in the United States are currently diagnosed with osteoporosis, an additional 2 million men suffer from the disease as well.

Osteoporosis literally translates to “porous bones” and occurs when bone density deteriorates to the point that the bones are no longer strong enough to support the body.  The early stages of osteoporosis are generally unaccompanied by pain or symptoms and a fractured bone is typically the first sign of a problem.  The most common fractures associated with osteoporosis occur in the spine, hips and wrists.  As the bones increasingly weaken, back pain, loss of height and a stooped posture can occur.

 Beginning in early childhood, our bones go through a continual cycle of remodeling, generating new bone and breaking down old bone.  Up until our mid-thirties, the body generates new bone faster than it can break down old bone, subsequently increasing bone mass.  However, as we move into our forties, the remodeling process slows down and we begin to lose more bone than the body is able to generate.  Regular exercise and adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are all key to maintaining strong bones throughout our lifetime.  Without these important nutrients, bones may never reach their full density and will only become more porous with age.

The Estrogen Connection

Women have generally been associated with osteoporosis due to its direct link to menopause.  Estrogen is important to maintaining bone density, but as women enter menopause, estrogen levels drop significantly triggering an increase in bone loss of about 1% to 3% each year.  Around the age of 60, a woman’s bone loss slows down, but does not stop completely.  As women reach their later years, they may lose between 35% and 50% of their total bone mass.

While the estrogen link to osteoporosis is significant for women, it plays an important role in the skeletal health of men as well.  The male hormone testosterone is, in part, converted to estrogen and serves the important function of maintaining bone density.  As men age, their testosterone levels, and subsequently their estrogen levels, decline.  Some researchers speculate that this loss in testosterone could be as severe as a woman’s loss of estrogen during menopause.  To date, there is very little research on men with osteoporosis.

For both men and women suffering from osteoporosis caused by hormonal imbalance, natural hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be the answer.  Because HRT is not without risk, work closely with your doctor to determine the best hormone levels for you.  Periodically your doctor will want to check your hormone levels to ensure that you are taking the smallest dose necessary to correct the problem.  Research has shown that HRT can make a great impact on bone density and is the best known way to prevent osteoporosis.

While the estrogen connection is the biggest reason why women tend to develop osteoporosis at a higher rate then men, there are a few other factors.  Most women tend to have smaller skeletal frames than men.  With a lower bone density to begin with, it doesn’t take nearly as much bone loss to reach the point of osteoporosis.  Additionally, women tend to begin losing bone mass earlier in their lives and more rapidly than men.

Acidosis and Osteoporosis

Stress, lack of physical activity, environmental pollutants and a diet high in acid-producing foods collectively create the problem of acidosis.  The body needs to be in a slightly alkaline state in order to function optimally.  With acidosis, the body seeks to correct the overly acidic state by drawing alkalizing minerals such as calcium from the bones.  Over time, this severe loss of calcium can have a major impact on your bone density and osteoporosis can ensue.

The most effective way to reduce acids within the body is by enacting dietary changes. A proper diet should be comprised of 60-80% alkalizing foods and 40-20% acid-forming foods. The Standard American Diet is mostly made up of acid-forming foods including coffee, tea, wine and most proteins (with the exception of milk, butter, soft cheese and almonds) as well as most fats, cereals and sugars. On the other hand, almost all fruits and vegetables (except for tomatoes, cranberries and blueberries) are alkalizing.

Dietary supplements can also be very effective at restoring an alkaline state to the body. Calcium, magnesium, potassium and pH balancing supplements all help to maintain a slightly alkaline state.

Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is key to optimal bone health.  Poor habits such as smoking and excess alcohol consumption can both reduce bone formation by interfering with the bone’s ability to properly absorb calcium.

Regular exercise is necessary to building strong bones.  Those with the most physically active lifestyles tend to have the greatest bone density.  Exercising for 30 minutes a day, three times a week can increase bone density at any age.  Weight bearing exercises, such as riding a bike or walking, combined with strength building exercises, such as weight lifting, are the most beneficial.  For an added boost, take your exercise routine outside!  The sun’s rays are packed with vitamin D, a necessary nutrient for your body to absorb calcium. 

 

An HWW Show Test to Determine Your Status and Suggested Nutritional Aids to Wellness

 

What is Osteoporosis and What are the Symptoms?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease syndrome in which the mineral density and architecture of the bone is compromised.  The results are thin weak bones highly susceptible to fracture.  Osteoblast cells naturally create bone while Osteoclast cells naturally dispose of bone in the body.  When the Osteoblast replacement of bone slows, but Osteoclast cells continue to dispose of bone in the body, Osteoporosis occurs.

Osteoporosis causes pain in the joints and bones, together with fractures of the spine, forearm, hip and leg.  While Osteoporosis can occur to any nationality or gender, 80% of cases occur in women, particularly Caucasian and Oriental.  An estimated 25 million Caucasian women in the U.S. are affected.

Media and Pharmaceutical efforts have created mass hysteria over this potentially dangerous condition to create a market for drugs approved for the treatment and prevention of Osteoporosis.  Who truly needs to be taking Fosamax, Didronel, Miacalcin or Calcitonin, Nolvadex, Evista or any of the other estrogen products available today? 

A Test to Determine Your Status with Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis does not attack suddenly with no warning. The condition develops over a lifetime, influenced by risk factors that are key to understanding what medication is preferable.  Count how many “Yes” answers you have for these Osteoporosis Risk Factors that relate to you: 

• Are you a fair skinned Caucasian (white) or Oriental woman?
• Do you have a history of thin bones in your family?
• Have you had long term cigarette usage?
• Do you have an alcohol problem of more than 4 drinks daily long term?
• Are you malnourished with a low calcium diet?
• Do you have a sedentary lifestyle with limited exercise?
• Do you have a history of cancer or chemotherapy?
• Have you had steroid therapy for 2 or month months (Predisone, Decadrone, or potent skin steroid creams long term)?
• Have or do you have hyperthyroidism or other endocrine diseases?
• Have you had early menopause prior to age 40 or a hysterectomy with oophrectomy prior to Age 40 with no hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
• Have you never given birth to a child?
• Do you or have you had reduced sun exposure and subsequent Vitamin D deficiency?
• Do you have or have had any type of chronic intestinal condition that affects you ability to absorb nutrients (stomach bypass surgery, ulcerative colitis, chronic gastritis but not irritable bowel syndrome)?

What was the number of your “Yes” answers?

You evaluate Your Condition Based on the number of Your “Yes” Answers:

0-2: Be Happy! Don’t Worry!  Go and enjoy an Osteoporosis-free life.

3-5: Change Lifestyle to include moderate exercise, vitamins, minerals, supplements (Aloha Noni Juice at 888-442-5150), NSC-24 Joint and Tissue, Everlasting and NSC-Gold Multiple Vitamin with Minerals at 888-541-3997, plus others), adequate rest, minimal stress and proper diet, but almost certainly not drug therapy.

6-7: Maximum protection needed with nutrition, vitamins, minerals and supplements with lifestyle changes and doctor prescribed medication to slow down the loss of bone mass.

8 or more: Make an appointment with a specialist on Osteoporosis today!  You are in trouble and your situation brittle – do not wait.

What to Do Nutritionally and Naturally for Osteoporosis

To nutritionally and naturally keep your bones strong and healthy, the following is suggested to avoid being susceptible to Osteoporosis (always check with your personal healthcare professional with any questions): 

• Daily take up to 2 grams of elemental calcium and 400 IU of Vitamin D, with essential minerals zinc, copper, boron and sea kelp.
• Eat less dairy and more green vegetables, beans, almonds and nuts, sardines and salmon.
• STOP all carbonated beverages and reduce caffeinated beverages.
• Take Vitamin K and/or Acidophilus
• Include in diet protein rich foods; especially the sulfa rich amino acids found in garlic (Kyolic suggested), onions and eggs.
• MSM, Chondroitin and Glucosamine (NSC-24 Joint and Tissue Immunition an excellent supplement source  – go to www.nsc24.com for more information or the HWW Catalog to order now) and Aloha Noni ( www.alohanoni.com or call 888-442-5150) for inflammation and pain management.
• Balanced multiple vitamin with NSC-Gold recommended containing important B-Complex and Antioxidants.
• Weight bearing exercise because Bone is Alive and responds becomes stronger with exercise.
• Estrogen helps to maintain bone mass, but evaluate risks with your health care professional regarding potential weight gain, elevated blood pressure and even cancer.

Once you know your status and begin a natural and nutritional program and lifestyle change to fight back, you too can be a major factor in never having or conquering Osteoporosis.

Listen to Healthy, Wealthy and Wise with Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy MD, Dr. Helen Pensanti MD and Frank Jordan coast to coast or on the internet on stations listed in the HWW Radio Network .