The Benefit of Exercise to Prevent Osteoporosis Is High
January 19th, 2010Osteoporosis is a bone disease that weakens bones, making them more susceptible to fractures. Because osteoporosis doesn’t cause symptoms until bone fractures, osteoporosis can be present without any symptoms for decades. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. When vitamin D is lacking, the body cannot absorb adequate amounts of calcium to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency can result from lack of intestinal absorption of the vitamin such as occurs in celiac sprue and primary biliary cirrhosis. As treated in many care homes in Scotland, the doctor will suspect osteoporosis if you have had a fragility fracture. A bone density test can confirm the diagnosis. Women are four times more likely to acquire osteoporosis. About 5 million men in this country have osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Among both sexes, it is responsible for 1.5 million fractures a year. Scientists are still piecing together just how osteoporosis develops. The benefit of exercise for osteoporosis has mostly to do with decreasing the risk of falls, probably because balance is improved and/or muscle strength is increased. Research has not yet determined what type of exercise is best for osteoporosis or for how long.
Once bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you may have signs and symptoms that include low back pain or neck pain. Then, sharp pains may come on suddenly. Osteoporosis can be detected by using tests that measure bone density. Treatment of osteoporosis includes ensuring that the diet contain adequate calcium and other minerals needed to promote new bone growth. Balanced nutrition, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, regular exercise, and cessation of cigarettes are important measures to maintain healthy bones for everybody. This is true for children, men, premenopausal and postmenopausal women, and the elderly, regardless of presence or absence of osteoporosis.
