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Slowing down the ageing process

In order to slow the process of aging.

Special cells called osteoclasts are constantly removing old bone while other cells known as osteoblasts are replacing it. As people age, more bone is removed than it is replaced. The inside of bone normally looks like a honeycomb. In osteoporosis gaps in this honeycomb are larger, much more bone is destroyed than is replaced.

Scientists do not fully understand why this happens, but know that after women go through menopause, levels of the female hormone estrogens are lower. These lower hormone levels can lead to bone loss.

Osteoporosis is not just an old person's disease, it can happen at any age, but the risk grows as you get older. After the age of 30, bone loss begins to occur very slowly. In women the rate of loss increases for several years after menopause, then slows again.

Losing height or having a bone break easily is often the first sign of osteoporosis. Bone density is a term that describes how solid bones are. The most exact way to measure bone density is by a scan. The test results are reported as a number. If your doctor says your result was '2.5 standard deviation or more, this means you have osteoporosis. A test finding of '1SD to '2.5SD means you have some bone loss.

Osteoporosis is preventable. A diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing exercise are the best ways to prevent weakened bones in later life.

Calcium
Getting enough calcium all through your life helps to build and keep strong bones. It is suggested that people from age 31 to 50 get 1000 mg of calcium each day. People over 50 should get 1200 mg daily. To do this, make foods that are high in calcium part of your diet.

If you think you need to take a supplement to get enough calcium, check with your doctor first. Calcium carbonate and calcium citrate are good forms of calcium supplement. Be careful not to get more than 2000 mg of calcium a day. That amount can increase your chance of developing kidney problems.

Vitamin D
Your body uses vitamin D to absorb calcium. Being out in the sun for a total of 25 minutes every day helps most people's bodies make enough vitamin D. You can also get vitamin D from eggs, fish, and cereal, as well as from supplements.

Exercise
Exercise makes bones and muscles stronger and helps prevent bone loss. It also helps you stay active and mobile. Weight-bearing exercises, done three to four times a week, are best for preventing osteoporosis. Walking, jogging, playing tennis, and dancing are all good weight-bearing exercises.

How Is Osteoporosis Treated
Treatment of osteoporosis aims to stop bone loss and rebuild bone. Making lifestyle changes, Doctors sometimes prescribe estrogens to replace the hormones lost during menopause, to slow the rate of bone loss, and to increase bone mass in the spine and hip. When estrogens alone is used, this treatment is called estrogens replacement therapy (ERT). Post-menopausal women who still have a uterus and who choose to take estrogens should receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT).