"Osteoporosis", is this you?

So today let's talk about bone loss.

"Osteoporosis" is a bone disease that occurs when the body "loses" too much bone, "makes" too little bone or "both".

But as a result . . . bones become weak and may break from a fall or in serious cases from sneezing or minor bumps.

So what does this all mean???

"Osteoporosis" means "porous bones" that look like a honeycomb and have less integrity.

Now . . . "Osteoporosis" is a common disease with approximately 10 million Americans diagnosed with it and another 44 million having low density placing them at risk. That means half of all adults age 50 and older are at risk of breaking a bone. With the most common fractures occurring at the hip, spine and wrist.

And unfortunately . . . women over 50 or postmenopausal have the greatest risk of developing it. This is due to the decrease in production of "estrogen", a hormone which protects against excessive bone loss.

"Osteoporosis" even has a lot to do with the condition of our teeth. You see . . . bone density in the jaw can cause tooth loss. And the older that we get . . . the greater problem it becomes.

Now . . . a lifelong lack of "calcium" plays another significant role in the development of "osteoporosis". Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures.

Science states . . . there is no cure for "osteoporosis", but proper treatment can help protect and strengthen bones. These treatments can help slow the breakdown of bone in the body and some treatments can spur the growth of new bone.

So how do we help this process of protecting our bones???