I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
Osteoporosis is a common medical condition where your once growing, strong bones now have low bone density or low bone mass. Low bone mass is determined by a bone density test, family history, diet, and the amount of exercise you get. Not everyone with low bone mass has osteoporosis; but, low bone mass puts you at higher risk of developing the disease, states MedlinePlus. If you do have osteoporosis, your now porous bones are subject to fractures, especially if you are over 50.
If you've broken a bone and you are over the half-century mark, chances are osteoporosis had something to do with it. Worldwide, statistics show that bone fractures caused by osteoporosis happen every 3 seconds. That's nearly 9 million fractures every year. If you are one of those 9 million people, does having the disease cause your fracture to heal more slowly? No--osteoporosis is a causative disease. Your fracture will heal at about the same rate as someone younger without osteoporosis.
Are All Fractures The Same?
Every skeletal system has the same basic make-up. What influences fracture healing is the individual's unique genetics and history. As a rule, bone fractures can take up to three months to heal. However, it can take up to a year to feel healed. Osteoporosis bone fractures are no different. You might think that because your bones are weaker and more porous that the healing process will be longer, with more physical therapy involved. Again, that is not necessarily so. It isn't the osteoporosis itself that would cause you to have issues in healing. Your body may have comorbidities (or other conditions) that would help or hinder the healing process.
Osteoporotic fracture treatment includes: immobilization (with or without a cast), physical and/or occupational therapy, and time. Surgery is only necessary in severe cases.
What Can You Do To Prevent Osteoporosis And Fractures?
Hindsight is 20/20, as the saying goes. Prevention starts during childhood. Apart from parents making sure their children got enough milk, most people don't think twice about how diet and exercise will affect them in their later years. Even so, it isn't too late to get started on a bone regimen that will help reduce your risk of osteoporotic fractures.
Today there are periodic medications that you can take to help reduce bone loss in your later years. If you're not ready of prescription medication, you can continue drinking milk, exercising regularly, keeping your weight in check, and getting plenty of vitamin D. Calcium and vitamin D are key nutrients that helps bones stay healthy no matter what your age.
For more information, contact a company like Radius.
Share10 May 2017
