Scarey Facts About Osteoporosis

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We Reach Maximum Bone Density Around Age 30, Then What?

If you were to look up the leading causes of death in the United States, you wouldn’t find osteoporosis on the list. However, that does not mean that this silent disease is innocuous to ones overall health.

In fact, osteoporosis is the leading cause of disability for post menopausal women in the United States. Subsequently, it is this disability that often leads to mortality.

For instance, 25% of individuals die within one year of breaking their hip, and this number increases to 50% by year two.

In total, ten million americans have osteoporosis and thirty million suffer from low bone density levels called osteopenia. Women are more likely to have osteoporosis with one in every two women over 50 suffering from an osteoporotic related fracture in their lifetime.

Men Are Affected Too

However, it’s not just women that are affected by osteoporosis; men are also subject to this debilitating condition, with up to 12 million men at risk, and 2 million suffering from osteoporotic fractures each year. What makes osteoporosis such a serious condition is that many individuals do not recognize the signs of osteoporosis until something serious occurs, such as a broken hip, and often its to late at this point to reverse the effects. So why not take care of yourself now?

Risk factors for osteoporosis include:

  • Being Caucasian or Asian.
  • A family history of osteoporosis.
  • Being slender; thin frames or build.

Long-term use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone or hydrocortisone for inflammatory conditions, or anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or gabapentin (Neurontin) for pain or seizures.

  • Eating disorders or diseases that affect the absorption of nutrients from food.
  • Being inactive or bedridden for a long period of time.
  • Smoking.
  • Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
  • Having a diet low in calcium and vitamin D

So what can one do to prevent osteoporosis? Well, one way is to supplement you body with the building blocks it needs to maintain strong healthy bones. We reach our maximum bone density around age 30, after which time our bodies head down the slippery slope towards osteoporosis. Now there are some measures we can take to maintain bone health such as diet, exercise, taking calcium and Vitamin D supplements. However, research indicates that this decline in bone density corresponds closely to a decline in our hormone levels. As we age, our sex hormones decrease, and both estrogen and testosterone are vital to maintaining strong, healthy bones.

Estrogen helps the body absorb calcium and as estrogen levels plummet in menopause; so does calcium absorptions.  Estrogen also plays an important role in promoting enzymes that nourish osteoblast health. In addition, calcium levels do not just affect bones, it also affects our teeth. We often experience symptoms of this as we age, the result of which leads to more and more dental concerns.

Testosterone deficiency also plays a role in osteoporosis. As our body age we fail to form new bone and/or too much old bone is reabsorbed. Testosterone decreases bone reabsorption and stimulates bone mineralization helping to promote strong bones.  Testosterone also helps increase energy levels so we can maintain an active lifestyle, which in turn helps keep our bones strong.

Bioidentical hormone therapy is a safe and easy way to support bone health and prevent osteoporosis. Supplementation can extend optimal health as one ages, decreasing the risk of debilitating fractures. To find out more click on the links in this blog, check out the articles below, and contact Vitali-T Medical Clinics to find out if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

“The potential lethal consequences of osteoporosis are overwhelming. Estrogen is protective but only when certain serum levels are maintained.” Female Patient Oct. 2004;Vol. 29:40-46.

”The largest study to date, the Nurses’ Health Study, demonstrated a 100% decrease in heart disease and cancer for estrogen users. It is never too late to initiate estrogen therapy to arrest the progression of osteoporosis and hip fractures.” Female Patient 2004 Oct;Vol 29: 35-41.

”In the final analysis of the estrogen only arm of the WHI; there was no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. There was a 35% decrease in hip fractures, 35% decrease in diabetes and a 60% decrease in urinary sepsis. This leads to a significant decrease in all causes of mortality. J Gen Internal Medicine 2004;19(7): 791-804

“Loss of testosterone causes loss of libido, energy, strength, sexual function, memory, cognition, muscle and bone. Testosterone replacement, as far as quality of life is concerned, is tremendous.”Medical Crossfire 2001Jan;Vol.3 No.1:17-18

“Testosterone replacement improves muscle mass and strength, libido, erectile function, bone density, memory, cognition, myocardial function. It is unconscionable for physicians not to treat men with testosterone.” Medical Crossfire 2001Jan;Vol. 3 No.1:47-50.

Katznelson et al. Increases in bone density and lean body mass during testosterone administration in men with acquired hypogonadism. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Vol 81(12), December. Pages 4358.