Understanding Osteoporosis in Older Women

Osteoporosis as experienced in older women is one of the most painful symptoms suffered as a result of menopause. The condition can vary in severity and is dangerous if not given appropriate medical attention. The following article outlines the link between menopause and osteoporosis in older women, and provides some practical tips and advice on natural treatments for handling the condition.

What exactly is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disorder which leads to the bones getting thinner and weaker. It is characterized by a general decrease in overall bone mass and density.

Human bones are composed of two major elements - minerals, which include calcium (hence the reason milk is good for the bones) and phosphorous. And bone cells which are called osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The essential roles of osteoclasts are to eat away at the bones, whilst osteoblasts serve to recreate them. To maintain healthy bones, both the osteoclasts and the osteoblasts need to be working in conjunction with each other to ensure constant and healthy regeneration.

Osteoporosis leaves the bones more vulnerable to breakages and fractures. The wrists, spine and hips often break in menopausal older women suffering from osteoporosis when a fall occurs. Such injuries can be devastating to an older person´s quality of life and independence.

What is the link between menopause and osteoporosis in older women?

Women going through menopause experience the lowered estrogen production of the ovaries. This loss of estrogen accelerates bone loss for a period ranging from five to eight years. This is because the drop of estrogen enhances the ability of oseoclasts to absorb bone. Because osteoblasts (cells which produce bone) aren´t simultaneously able to produce more bone, a greater amount of bone is lost than is produced. This causes older women to lose more bone mass than normal.

Although accelerated bone loss during menopause has little relationship to the amount of calcium intake, there are studies that show that women over 60 who give increased attention to calcium intake increase their bone density.

There are other causes of bone loss (though far less common) which include an inadequate intake of vitamin D, not enough muscle exercises, and the use of certain medications. Despite this, hormonal imbalance as a result of menopause is usually the primary cause for older women suffering osteoporosis. Read on for more information about avoiding and dealing with osteoporosis.

What are some natural treatments for osteoporosis in older women?

Whilst osteoporosis is often linked to older women, it is still easier to prevent it in the first place and far less painful than treating it. Thus, the most important step in preventing osteoporosis must be in controlling estrogen and calcium levels of older women. Of course, this is totally contingent on early detection of the signs of osteoporosis or menopause, which should be detected by a medical professional.

Given that osteoporosis in older women is linked to a drop in estrogen hormones in the body, maintaining a healthy diet (with plenty of calcium) and exercise routine is vital in producing those hormones. There are also a range of pharmaceutical and alternative medicine remedies that help prevent osteoporosis. These remedies will often target the issue of hormone depletion itself, and therefore prove effective in preventing osteoporosis in older women as a consequence of hormone imbalance. Click on the following link to get more information on some of the treatments for osteoporosis in older woman.

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