What Happens After You Are Diagnosed With Osteoporosis?
Thursday, June 16, 2011 11:15Osteoporosis is a disease that found most frequently among Caucasian women over the age of 50. Although the disease is incurable there are many treatment options available. Osteoporosis causes women to lose bone density, which can lead to fractures as well as the need for joint replacement surgery. If left untreated, life threatening complications due to bone loss can occur.
While osteoporosis is one of the most commonly occurring disease in women going through menopause, there are virtually no symptoms. It is not until substantial bone loss has occurred that patients realize that they have disease. For this reason, most doctors take precautionary measures and treat women over 50 as if they have the disease, even if they are not sure. By instructing their patients to increase their consumption of calcium and vitamin by way of dietary changes or the addition of supplements, osteoporosis can be managed.
Severe cases of osteoporosis are frequently treated with prescription medications. A single drug or a combination of prescriptions can be used to prevent further bone loss from occurring, however, exercise can also help to reduce the effects of this disease. Patients who are suffering from other ailments may be restricted from partaking in any activities that are deemed to be dangerous to their health.
Men can also be diagnosed with osteoporosis, however, this usually doesn’t happen until they are around the age of 70. There appears to be a direct link between lower levels of estrogen and testosterone and the onset of osteoporosis. Most patients that will be diagnosed with osteoporosis will also have a family history of the disease. By taking preventative measures early on in life, the effects of osteoporosis can be minimal. Sometimes surgery is needed to treat fractures, particularly those found in the vertebrae as osteoporosis patients’ bones heal very slowly.
Rebecca Washington is a writer that specializes in health care related articles. Her works have been published in numerous internationally syndicated magazines and newsletters.
