Popularly known as the ‘silent disease,’’ osteoporosis is a condition that causes weak bones, leaving them vulnerable to fractures. This condition primarily affects people of the older age group and is not recognizable unless one breaks a bone! Several reasons cause this metabolic bone disorder. The primary one among them is a decrease in bone density. Bone is a living tissue, and as people grow older, the ability of the bones to repair and regrow reduces compared to the rate at which bone tissues break down. As a result, bone mass is lost, and bones weaken, becoming brittle and porous.
Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis than men due to menopause. Older women, after menopause, experience low estrogen levels, and this causes a loss of bone density. Other than this, nutritional deficiencies can cause osteoporosis in the older population. Osteoporosis can develop without any noticeable symptoms, especially in the earlier stages. A preventive health checkup is thus necessary to identify the signs of this disease and treat it as soon as possible. An osteoporosis diet can also help manage the progression of the disease.
In this blog, we will discuss this silent disease and how to recognize its symptoms before it’s too late. You will also gain an understanding of some dietary factors that cause osteoporosis and the different ways in which you can manage the disease.
What are Osteoporosis Symptoms?
Bone Fractures: The weakening of bones makes them more susceptible to fractures. Fractures can occur in the hips, lower back (pain in the lumbar spine), wrist. These are the most common areas where osteoporosis fractures occur.
Back Pain: Fractures in the spine can lead to back pain. This can also cause an appearance of a stooped posture due to the curvature of the spine.
Loss of Height: With osteoporosis, a bone can break with a simple movement, such as a sneeze, cough, or minor fall. Bone fractures can also cause a loss in height. Often, older people seem to appear shorter, which may be because of osteoporosis-related bone loss.
Receding Gums: This is caused due to reduced bone density in the jaws. It can also lead to tooth loss and other dental problems.
Dietary Factors
H3 Low Calcium Intake: Calcium is necessary for bone growth. Insufficient calcium intake can cause weak bones by causing decreased bone density over some time.
H3 Eating Disorders: Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies. The essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D that are necessary for bone development and growth are not present. This can cause osteoporosis.
H3 Gastrointestinal Surgery: Gastrointestinal surgery can impact the ability of the body to absorb nutrition. This can compromise bone health, weaken it and increase the chances of osteoporosis later in life.
H2 Therapy for the management of osteoporosis
Non pharmacological interventions
Non pharmacological interventions for osteoporosis prevention and treatment include making dietary changes by including foods rich in nutrients essential for bone building. Exercise is also an option.
Diet for Osteoporosis
- Calcium: Crucial for bone health, calcium is one of the most essential nutrients in your osteoporosis diet to help prevent the disease. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products like cheese, yogurt, milk, leafy greens, and seeds like chia, poppy, and sesame, which are also good sources of calcium. Beans and lentils also provide a good amount of calcium.
- Vitamin D: The role of vitamin D is to help absorb calcium better. It also helps in bone building. Good sources of vitamin D are mushrooms, oranges, bananas, spinach, tofu, soy milk, etc.
- Magnesium: In an osteoporosis diet, magnesium can help in bone formation and regulating the calcium levels. Nuts, seeds, whole grains, leafy greens etc can get you the proper amount of magnesium you need.
- Protein: For increasing muscle strength and optimal bone health, protein is required in an osteoporosis diet. Fish, poultry, lean meats, lentils, and tofu are some excellent sources of protein that you can include in your diet.
- Vitamin K: Vitamin K in an osteoporosis diet can help in reducing the risk of fractures. Leafy green vegetables are a good source of vitamin K. Other foods rich in vitamin K are brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage.
- Phosphorus: Phosphorus along with calcium can help in building strong bones. Dairy products, lean meats, poultry and fish are some good sources of phosphorus.
Non pharmacological interventions like these along with regular appropriate exercise can help manage the disease better.
Pharmacological interventions
Drugs like denosumab and bisphosphonates are frequently used to delay bone loss and lower the risk of fracture.
Osteoporosis hormone therapy or HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can be used for postmenopausal women in particular, estrogen medication can help maintain bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.
Conclusion
Osteoporosis is a complicated ailment that has to be managed proactively in order to avoid complications and preserve quality of life. Through knowledge of the disease’s signs, causes, and available therapies, people may protect their bone health and lessen the effects of this common condition.
FAQs
- What causes osteoporosis?
There are several causes of osteoporosis. Aging, hormonal changes, nutrient deficiency, intake of certain medications, and a medical condition called rheumatoid arthritis are some reasons that can cause osteoporosis.
- What are the risk factors for developing osteoporosis?
The chances of developing osteoporosis is increased by age, gender (women are more vulnerable), low body weight, family history, and certain drugs.
- How is osteoporosis treated?
The main goals of osteoporosis treatment are to minimize the risk of fracture, slow down bone loss, and control related symptoms. Usually, a mix of dietary adjustments, lifestyle changes, and medication is used to treat the disease.
- Are there any medications available to treat osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis can be treated with a number of drugs like teriparatide, bisphosphonates, and denosumab. Hormone replacement therapy is also used to treat osteoporosis.