Osteoporosis – What does the Doctor have to say?

It turns out that from a completed review of the current research, covered in Time Magazine, of a Lancet study, that taking the old standby of Vitamin D and Calcium to help to prevent Osteoporosis has been misleading.

osteoporosis and stairs
Do you know if you are at risk from Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is often known as a silent condition, in that up to 3 million people in the UK (approximately a twentieth of the population) are likely to have it, yet not everyone knows they have it unless they break a bone, get a fracture or have an X-ray on another body part and it gets noticed.

One in 3 women, and one in 5 men in the fifty plus age group are predicted to suffer osteopathic fractures as they age, so World Osteoporosis Day is observed each October 20th.  The day is designed to highlight the risks of developing the condition and give healthy living advice, primarily to women in the higher risk age groups.  If you want to check if you might be at risk, then there is an interactive free quiz to test you, that takes just a minute. Here is the link to it.

If you have a genetic risk factor, then you must do all you can in terms of a healthy diet, regular weight bearing exercise and ensure that you maintain the right weight for your height.  In the Osteoporosis Evidence Reviews for NICE the Vitamin D and Calcium supplementation were only relevant for those who were already suffering from low levels of those vitamins/minerals.  So, to clarify if someone is concerned, then I would advise getting a bone mineral density test from your doctor, and if you are low then you would be given a supplement to take for a while and also given dietary advice to make sure that you are getting natural source minerals and vitamins. A daily stroll or sunbathe outside can give us the Vitamin D, along with co-factors like Magnesium, Boron and Vitamin K2, that our body needs, while also giving us the chance to include some gentle exercise.  Not everyone knows this, but after the age of 50, our bones naturally become more porous as we get older. To help to maintain the bone density we still have, it is necessary to add enough calcium and enough, (ideally daily) weight bearing exercises too.

The most common injury after a fall is a fracture, especially in the elderly.  To help you “bone” up on your knowledge of fractures, here is a little video all about the subject.  I find it fascinating.

If you have osteoporosis and feel that there are things that help you, then let us know in the comments, as it could be very useful for other readers, like yourself.  Also if you want me to write about other medical conditions then email me here and I will develop my research in that direction. Cheerio for now.