Bones support different parts of the body. Today, many adults, as well as teens, suffer from weak bones. The main reason for weak bones is the deficiency of vitamin D. The other reasons for weak bones are continuously working on PC and laptops, several injuries, wounds and other bone problems. Osteopenia is a disease in which the bones become weaker day by day. It generally occurs as you cross the age of 30 years. This article is on Osteopenia, how to diagnose it, causes of this disease and how to prevent it.
One may start to lose bone mass in this body in this disease. Osteopenia can lead to arthritis in the future. It is not as dangerous as Osteoporosis. One of the major benefits to the people suffering from Osteopenia is that they can get it cured with proper care and tips. Once Osteopenia is diagnosed, it can be cured with medications and other natural remedies. Let us discuss Osteopenia and its causes.
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Causes of Osteopenia
Osteopenia is mainly caused by the age factor. Once you reach the age of 30 years, your bones begin to lose vitamin D. They start to break, and you are more prone to injuries and wounds. One will then get affected by Osteopenia. More than 50% of Americans suffer from Osteopenia. Now we will discuss the causes of Osteopenia.
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- Small bones
This is one of the biggest problems in Asian and Caucasian women. They have small sized bones right from birth. The small bone often causes Osteopenia. This can be genetic too, and it can be passed from generation to generation.
- Menopause
Due to a stressful life, women get menopause before 45 years. This will lead to weaker bones, and one can suffer from Osteopenia. Women who have their ovaries removed can get Osteopenia in the future.
- Lack of exercises
People who do not do regular workouts and exercises get weaker bones. Lack of exercises will make your bones stiff, and they break after a certain period of time. Inadequate exercises and workouts are the main reasons for Osteopenia.
- Caffeine
Taking too much coffee will weaken your bones. Apart from that, people who smoke or drink a lot are more at risk of getting Osteopenia.
The other reasons for Osteopenia are improper diet and taking medications such as phenytoin or prednisone.
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How is it diagnosed?
There are 2 ways to diagnose Osteopenia. They are either by bone mineral density scan or by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). These tests are not very difficult ones and can be done within 20 to 30 minutes.
In the case of bone mineral density, the bone density is measured in the hip and lower spine. This test can be done in any radiologist’s office. Even rheumatologist and endocrinologist do these tests. One will not feel any pain in these tests, and they give faster results too.
One more test to diagnose Osteopenia is Bone Densitometry in which the density of the bone is measured.
Treatment of Osteopenia
There are many ways to cure Osteopenia. It cannot be cured completely but you can take care of some things.
- Intake of vitamin D
Osteopenia is caused because of deficiency of vitamin D. It is necessary for people with this disease to consume foods which have more amount of vitamin D. They include yogurt, fresh veggies, salmon, sardines, low-fat milk and foods containing higher dietary calcium.
- Avoid drinking and alcohol
People who are suffering from Osteopenia should not drink alcohol or smoke too much. It will reduce bone density and also make the bones weaker and brittle. You are more prone to injuries and wounds then.
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- Medications
One of the best ways to treat Osteopenia is medication. You must consult rheumatologists and geriatric specialists and take their medications regularly.
- Strontium
Many health experts suggest Strontium to make bone health better and stronger. It is a natural supplement to increase bone density and make your bones healthier and stronger.
How to prevent Osteopenia?
Prevention is better than cure. This is the popular quote and we need to follow that. You can prevent this disease by taking foods with adequate quantities of vitamin D. Apart from that; you must regularly do some weight lifting exercises such as push-ups and weight-bearing exercises. These exercises will increase bone density and make the bones stronger and healthier.
Further, you can take some steroids or medications but only with the prescription of a good doctor.
Conclusion
Bones are necessary for the proper working of the body. Because of stronger bones, you can walk, run and do other physical activities effectively. This is the short article on Osteopenia. Once you are diagnosed with Osteopenia, the regular physical exercises, healthy diet and medications will help in curing it. You will be able to live your life in a more beautiful way.
