Calcified Fibroid - Older Women

While fibroids occur in the uterus, older women are more prone to develop a calcified fibroid. Women that are going through or have gone through menopause experience a decrease in estrogen. While this might be good at alleviating some of the other symptoms of fibroids like the heavy menstrual bleeding, it can also lead to the development of calcium deposits in the fibroids.

Treatments

Some suggested treatments for a calcified fibroid include lowering your calcium intake. There are also different types of drugs you can take to try to shrink or dissolve the calcium deposits in the fibroids. These treatments may help with the fibroid, but they can lead to other complications like osteoporosis. You shouldn't take a calcified fibroid lightly, but you should be aware of what the treatment risks are. Since menopausal women are already more prone to developing osteoporosis, you may want to look more closely at surgeries or non-drug treatments that won't interfere with your calcium intake.

If you have fibroids, you should look at options for long-term treatments. Gather as much information as you can and discuss your options with your doctor. Since calcium deposits in fibroids usually occur in menopausal women, a simple removal of the uterus may actually be the best option. There is no such thing as too much information and the more you have the better aware you are of your options. This can be a huge benefit when deciding on what is right for you with your doctor.

Just remember to do as much research on these tumors before you decide on the best treatment for you personally.

How to Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common health hazard especially for women over 50 even though men run a moderately strong risk of developing the disease as well. There is a plethora of information available today that can cause confusion as to how to prevent or limit the progression of the disease before it causes serious damage to bones. While there are many things that you can do to help prevent osteoporosis, the short answer is that the disease can be prevented by building stronger bones before the age of 30. This is the best prevention against the disease in later life. Although, there are several things you can do later on that will also help resist the onset of the disease or the progression of it if you have already been diagnosed. Since osteoporosis is an often complicated disease, it requires not just one preventive health protocol, but rather several.

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  #1 - You must ingest the recommended amount of vitamin D and calcium. Vitamin D is critical for the proper absorption of calcium in the body to take place. If your body does not have enough vitamin D to process calcium in your body, then your body will slowly remove the necessary vitamin D from your bones in order to synthesize the calcium. Vitamin D is absorbed into the body through two methods: through the sun and through the diet. If you're under 50, you need a daily dosage of 400-800 IU's and if you're over 50, you need to take at least between 800-1,000 IU's daily for proper calcium absorption. The D vitamin is also found in foods such as egg yolks, liver, and saltwater dish.

• 
  #2 - In order to create the proper body balance for fighting osteoporosis, you should abstain from smoking altogether as well as indulging in excessive alcohol. As in many other health issues, osteoporosis is only exacerbated by these negative health activities and puts users at a higher risk for the disease later in life.

• 
  #3 - Add a fitness regimen that includes weight bearing exercises at least 3 or 4 days a week for best results. Exercises such as jogging, walking, climbing stairs, and hiking are good, basic activities. Sports such as tennis and racquetball are also good fitness activities. If you are training at a gym, the addition of lighter weight lifting exercises are very helpful for strengthening the hip joints and spine. If you have never included weight lifting in your fitness workout, you may benefit from the expertise of a trainer for a while as you learn the basic uses of weight equipment and how to exercise the correct body areas. A balanced approach to fitness is always best by mixing up both cardio and weight bearing exercises.

• 
  #4 - Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional about your bone health as well as undergo bone density testing whenever your healthcare provider suggests it. Usually those over 50 should begin to watch for any bone thinning and deterioration. Your doctor can prescribe various types of medication that can also help prevent bone loss if you are at risk.

Be sure to actively combat your risk for osteoporosis not only after the age of 50 but well before, if possible. However, if you find that your are now at risk for developing the disease or are already showing signs of bone thinning, you can still follow these sensible and practical suggestions on combating or slowing further development of osteoporosis.

Prevent Osteoporosis Through Muscle Building

Most exercisers tend to concentrate on weight bearing activities to build up muscle. However, these activities are insufficient to reverse, stop or prevent the bone loss that occurs with osteoporosis. If you are going to improve the strength and tone of your muscles, it is best to perform activities that will synergistically build up bone as well.

The reason for this is that if you increase the size and strength of your muscle, your body also causes an increase in the density of the bone underneath. Hormones that are released during muscle building also promote an increase in bone mass.

All individuals who are in good health are capable of building muscles, regardless of their age. Research has demonstrated that even elderly people in their 90s can build up muscle mass if they pursue a regular strength training program 3 times a week for 6 months. While they are certainly not capable of building up the bulky muscle mass such as in their younger counterparts, research has shown that they have doubled in muscle strength.

Myths & Facts About Weight Training

There are many myths surrounding weight training. Let us take a look at two particular myths that continue to persist up to the present despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

The first myth is that women are incapable of building huge, bulked up muscles (like those in men) with weight training. The truth is that, because of genetics, average women cannot build up muscles that are as huge as their male counterparts. Even mesomorphs - women who can develop their muscles - only need to perform specific regimens in order for them not to build up large muscles. Muscle building becomes even more challenging for women aged 35 and above. This is because, instead of muscle growth occurring, the muscles gradually stop atrophying with every year that passes by.

The second myth is that heavy weight lifting is a dangerous endeavor for the elderly. Nothing can be further than the truth. As was mentioned earlier, all individuals - regardless of age - can reap numerous benefits from weight training. In the case of the elderly, they just need a training regimen that is supervised by a fitness trainer, so that there are lesser risks for injuries. Also, the term "heavy" differs between younger aged and older aged individuals. For example, a young person may consider 30 pounds to be heavy while in an elderly individual "heavy" could mean just 3 pounds. So, while you increase the weights lifted by a younger person by increments of 5 to 10 pounds, incremental increase of weights in the elderly can mean only a few ounces or pounds. You only use the adjective "heavy" to refer to weights that are challenging for a person to lift.

Basic Principles of Muscle Building

Any bodybuilder and physical fitness trainer will tell you that the best way to increase muscle mass is through incremental resistance training. If you break down these words, "incremental" would refer to the gradual increase in weight (also referred to as intensity) and duration of an exercise, "resistance" would mean a measurable weight that the muscle is made to work against, and "training" is an exercise program that is performed regularly and consistently.

Incremental resistance training is therefore defined as a type of regular and consistent exercise program that has an individual working against a weight that is increased by increments. This is very different from cardiovascular exercises like aerobics, walking, jogging, running, dancing and swimming. While you are capable of increasing the duration of these exercises, they are only moderate in intensity (meaning that your muscles are not working against a measured weight). In contrast, you can increase both the intensity and the duration in weight lifting. Intensity especially promotes an increase in both muscle and bone mass.

To put this in simpler terms that are easier to understand, it is weight lifting that builds up muscle strength and bone size and density while cardio exercises build up the lungs, stamina and endurance.

Preventing, Maintaining and Reversing Bone Loss through Incremental Resistance Training

The best type of training program for the prevention of osteoporosis is incremental resistance training in the form of a total body weight training program. This involves using weights that can be increased by measurable increments, such as dumbbells, barbells, bands water resistance, weight loaded machines, and through proper body positioning.

Body positioning has been found to also produce gradual increases in resistance. Let us take a look at the push-up as an example. The easiest form of the push-up is by standing against the wall and pushing your body up and down from the wall with your hands. You increase your difficulty when you perform a push-up from your knees with your hands pushing your body up and down from a chair. The intensity is again increased when you do the traditional push-up - with you lying face down on the floor and your legs straight behind you - because you are lifting your body against gravity. Finally, the load you will be lifting is greatest when you do a push-up with your knees bent.

Application of Effort

It is not possible to build bone mass without the application of considerable effort to one's exercises and training regimen. If you are afraid of straining yourself or getting injured during the last few repetitions, you don't need to worry especially if you are strictly following the instructions given to you by a trainer or in a fitness manual or video.

It is only through considerable effort that you will be able to increase bone density.

Medical Treatments for Osteoporosis

While there are many drugs that purportedly treat osteoporosis, many medical journals have shown that a lot of these drugs may not be treating the disease, but may actually make it worse. Some can even cause dangerous side effects, including death.

Almost all physicians and physiotherapists agree that preventing osteoporosis can be achieved through daily intake of a high calcium diet, absorbable calcium supplements, Vitamin D3, and incremental resistance training.

If you want to prevent the development of osteopenia and osteoporosis, put a lot of effort into your incremental resistance training.

Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Just say the word "sciatica" and people cringe. If you have never suffered from it, consider yourself lucky. If you have had it or still do have it, you already know this condition can literally buckle your knees. This condition is actually the result of other medical issues, and not a "condition" that just develops on its own.

Causes

The sciatic never begins in the lower back and then continues down the back of each leg. This nerve generates some of the sensations you feel on the bottom of the foot, lower leg, and rear of the thigh. It also controls the muscles located in the lower leg and knee areas. Some conditions that can cause pain in this nerve are:

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  Pelvic fracture or injury


• 
  Tumors


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  Slipped and/or herniated disks


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  Spinal stenosis

Common Symptoms and Effects

There are different levels of pain, from mild annoyance to completely debilitating. It usually starts as a throbbing pain and continues as a constant ache. Over time, it can cause numbness or burning sensations in the affected areas.

The smallest of movements (and actually lack of movement) can cause the pain level to heighten. For instance, lying on your belly sleeping all night, long periods of standing or sitting, and even something as simple as sneezing can cause excessive pain.

Treatments

To be sure you have sciatica, it is best to visit your general practitioner full a full diagnosis. In most cases, your doctor will recommend a specialist for further testing. Once diagnosed, the specialist will probably recommend some focused exercises and stretching, the use of ice and/or heat to the affected area, and physical therapy.

In addition to these standard treatments, doctors will often recommend additional treatments, such as chiropractic care and/or medical injections. Because everyone is different and their bodies react differently to these treatments, every case is unique and will be treated as such.

Finding the Right Doctors

It is very important that your doctors work together to treat this condition. Each of the doctor's should be informed as to what measures and medications are being used for treatment. This ensures that there are no conflicts concerning the therapy and medications being prescribed.

It is quite common for your general practitioner to recommend doctors in each field. In many cases, these doctors already have a working relationship and open lines of communication in place. Obviously, though, the doctors you can use may depend upon your insurance coverage.

Steroid Induced Osteoporosis - Can it Be Prevented?

Some medications interfere with calcium absorption or bone formation and can leave us susceptible to developing osteoporosis. Steroids and corticosteroids are two of the greatest culprits.

Steroids and corticosteroids are used for a wide variety of conditions, including inflammatory intestinal illness, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis...as well as to suppress the immune system after a transplant. These drugs may be prescribed as a pill, injection, a spray or a skin cream. When used for a short time or injected into a joint or swollen area there is no effect on bone health; but when used for long periods of time (3 months or more) they begin to destroy the bone-building process. Some of the more frequently prescribed steroid drugs are Prednisone, Prednisolone, Medrol, Deltasone, Decadron, Cortisone, Cortel, Celestone, and Aristocort.

Studies show that within the first year after starting corticosteroid therapy, patients lose an average of 14 percent of their bone mineral content. Anyone on long-term steroids should have a bone density scan, use bone-building supplements, join an exercise class that includes weight training and consult with their doctor about taking medication that would prevent the inevitable bone loss.

When choosing a bone building supplement, the best calcium for osteoporosis treatment and prevention will include a lot more than calcium. Medical authorities agree that vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption but unfortunately few supplements provide the recommended level of 800 IUs a day. Vitamin K also helps to push calcium into the bones and magnesium helps to improve the quality of the bone. While all of these minerals and vitamins are available in a healthy diet, the right supplement will provide the extra boost needed to prevent steroid induced osteoporosis.

Strontium citrate should also be considered as part of an osteoporosis prevention program. Research has shown that strontium is an effective dual-action agent that can increase bone density by up to 15% within three years. But strontium is only effective when taken on an empty stomach and when supported by sufficient calcium and vitamin D.

3 Natural Steps To Stop Or Reverse Osteoporosis

More than one million skeletal fractures occur annually in the U.S. and 300,000 of these are hip fractures. The World Health Organization estimates that the number of hip fractures will continue to rise worldwide from 1.7 million in 1990 to 6.3 million by 2050. Further, what we once thought were the answers to treating and/or preventing osteoporosis have been debunked. Following are some of the more commonly known risk factors:

o Previous history of fracture after age 50

o Decrease in bone mass

o Post-menopause

o Small frame and thin

o Family history of osteoporosis

o Vitamin D deficiency

o Low calcium intake

o Inactive lifestyle

o Cigarette smoking

o Use of certain medications (cortisone, chemotherapy, prednisone, anticonvulsants)

o Low testosterone in men

o Overuse of alcohol and/or caffeine

There are other medical conditions that can result in osteoporosis which are not as commonly known such as parathyroid tumors and digestion and absorption problems. Although there are medications available for the treatment of osteoporosis, there is also a fear of the side effects of medications. These fears have been brought about by the recent discoveries of side effects of hormone replacement therapy, Vioxx and other drugs. The cause and treatment of osteoporosis should not be taken lightly and people at risk would be wise to consult with their physician. That said, in an overview of the treatments shown to be effective at treating and/or preventing osteoporosis, there are three that stand out.

1. Eating balanced meals including fats, carbohydrates (fruits and vegetables) and proteins along with calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Given the status of our food sources recently, I believe supplementation is necessary.

2. Exercise has been shown to halt and even reverse osteoporosis. The recommended exercise program should include strength, weight bearing and flexibility training.

3. Sunlight in safe doses has also been shown to benefit bone health from the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin.

Study Shatters Myths about Milk

An article in the March 2005 issue of Pediatrics questions some long-established myths about milk. The authors--PCRM senior nutrition scientist Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D.; PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D.; and Susan Berkow, Ph.D., C.N.S.--have reviewed over 50 studies related to the effect of dairy products and other calcium-containing foods on bone density in children, adolescents, and young adults.

They concluded that there is little scientific evidence to support the suggestion that milk builds strong bones or to justify the U.S. government's artificially high recommendations for calcium intake. A vast majority of studies found that here is no relationship between dairy or dietary calcium intake and measures of bone health.

The authors found no proof that milk is a preferred source of calcium. While milk and other dairy products contain calcium, many factors affect the availability and retention of the calcium from these products, one of these factors being lactose intolerance. Calcium from dairy products is not as well absorbed as that in many dark-green leafy vegetables, but has an absorption fraction similar to that of calcium supplements, calcium-enriched beverages, calcium-set tofu, sweet potatoes, and beans.

Physical activity has been shown to have the greatest positive impact on adolescents' bone health. Besides safe exposure to sunlight, avoidance of smoking and high salt and caffeine intakes, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables are all good strategies for supporting healthy bone development and maintenance.

PCRM held a conference in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2005 to share the findings of its bone health paper. It was covered by hundreds of media outlets, including Associated Press, Reuters, the Washington Post, CBS News, and CNN.

In discussing calcium supplementation, a story comes to mind. Over twenty-five years ago my mentor was running down a grassy hill when all of a sudden she tripped and fell on her back. At the time she was 68-years old and had been practicing chiropractic for close to thirty years. She asked me to x-ray her spine and pelvis and fortunately there was no fracture. As I was viewing the x-rays, I was shocked to see that her bones were like someone at least thirty years younger, despite the fact that she was also a smoker. She was a strong believer in calcium supplementation and recommended taking 2,500 mg. of calcium daily. She would frequently tell her patients to "flood" their bodies with calcium because calcium absorption is poor. Whether the supplements were working or she just had strong bones, I will never know, but I will never forget that incident.

Protein Does A Body Good?

Studies have shown that protein along with calcium and vitamin D are important for bone health. In a study (published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), two groups of men and women aged 65 and older were followed over three years. One group was given calcium and vitamin D supplements and the other half received a placebo pill. The study demonstrated that the men and women who took the supplements and had a diet rich in protein had higher bone density. The placebo group did not benefit from the protein rich diet and had an increase in fractures over the three-year period.

How much protein and what source of protein should an individual consume depends on the person's biochemical individuality. Let me explain by first telling you the story about Dr. Kelly. Dr. Kelly had become ill with cancer and through his studies determined that he should be on a vegetarian diet. While on the vegetarian diet his health improved tremendously and he felt better than he had in a long time so he decided that his wife should be on this program too. To his surprise, she became very ill and her health began to decline. When Dr. Kelly went back to his studies, he concluded that genetic heritage also played a role in metabolism. To further explain this concept, there are two contrasting groups to consider. The protein intake of Eskimos is estimated at 25 percent of total calories and they consume 2,500 mg. of calcium daily. Yet, their osteoporosis is among the worst in the world. The Bartus group of South Africa consume a diet of 12 percent mostly plant protein, and only 200 to 350 mg per day of calcium, about half our women's intake. Although the women bear six or more children and nurse for long periods of time, osteoporosis is a very rare disease there. When these women immigrate to the United States, they develop osteoporosis but not as much as Caucasian or Asian women. I agree that there is a genetic difference that is modified by diet, but we cannot ignore the sun factor. The African women were getting more vitamin D than the Eskimos.

The Sun and Vitamin D

In his book, The Healing Sun, Richard Hobday, MSc, PhD explains that traditionally, sunlight deprivation has been linked with weak or brittle bones. The book quotes the writings of a Greek historian Herodotus (480-425 BC) who noted that after the battle of Pelusium (525 BC) there was a remarkable finding in the remains of the Persian and Egyptian casualties. The skulls of the Persians who always protected their heads from the sun with a skull-cap were very thin and fragile. The skulls of the Egyptians were very tough and difficult to break. The Egyptians shaved their heads from childhood to harden the skull by the effects of the sun.

Dr. Hobday relates that there is a relationship between lack of sunshine and certain conditions, one of them being osteoporosis. He explains that there are more hip fractures during the winter than at other times of the year and that these fractures also become more common with increasing latitude. While there is evidence that there is benefit from calcium and vitamin D supplementation, the digestive systems of the elderly become less efficient at absorbing oral supplementation. Therefore, it would be useful to include the benefits that sun bathing would bring from the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin. Dr. Hobday's book is very interesting and informative on the benefits of the sun and explains how to safely sunbathe.

The Oregon State University Study

Oregon State University conducted a five-year study and revealed that postmenopausal women who participate in a long-term fitness regimen that includes jumping and resistance exercises using weighted vests can prevent significant bone loss in the hip.

The average age of the women in the study was 66 years at the start and participated in an exercise program for five years. The program included three sessions a week consisting of resistance exercises wearing vests weighted with one to 10 pounds. While wearing these vests they performed squats, lunges, stepping up and down and getting in and out of a chair. Jumping with weighted vests about 50 times a day, three days a week was also part of the program. The women were to jump no more than 4-5 inches and land flat-footed to distribute the force. Caution was taken that there was sufficient knee, ankle and hip strength and stability before subjects participated in these exercises.

Significant improvement was noted in the women's bone density after five years. Christine Snow, director of the Bone Research Laboratory at OSU and principal investigator in the study stated that "Exercise was as good or better than either estrogen or Fosamax for preventing bone loss."

Strength Training At The Mayo Clinic

More than ten years ago, scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota took a group of 50 women aged 58-75 and randomized them into two different groups. One was a control group and the other performed back strengthening exercises for two years. While the report did not give the frequency of the exercises performed, I have to assume that three times per week would be reasonable. After two years the strength trainers had stronger back muscles but there was no difference between groups in bone density. Then eight years later, the scientists followed up on the women and tested them again to see if any difference still remained. The women who had originally been strength training still had stronger back muscles and better bone density than the controls. It was further noted that the women in the control group had experienced almost three times as many vertebral fractures than the women who were originally in the strength training group. The controls had 14 crush fractures and the strength trainers had had only 6 crush fractures. This was a very significant difference between groups. Whether the women in the strength training group continued training over the eight year follow-up period is unknown.

Flexibility Training

Flexibility exercises are important to improve mobility of the joints and improve posture. Once your muscles have warmed up, stretches can be performed to improve the range of motion in the joints. Stretches that flex the spine should be avoided or performed with caution. If you have a lower back condition such as sciatica, flexion can cause a flare-up. There is also a greater risk of a spinal compression fracture when osteoporosis is present. I encourage you to "mindfully" continue to exercise on a regular basis to improve strength and mobility. Because it is very important to avoid falls and fractures, paying close attention to movement throughout the activities of daily living is critical. Pilates is an excellent way of improving not only strength, flexibility and balance but it is superior at increasing awareness of movement. Pilates training is now available in local gyms and schools. All levels of Pilates exercises can also be found on DVD.

While thinking about osteoporosis and movement, another story comes to mind about an elderly female patient who came to see me for treatment of back pain. In taking her history, I asked if she had had any fractured bones. She explained that a couple of years prior she was taking out the garbage and by tying the plastic bag in a knot and "snapping" her arms back to pull on the knot, she fractured some bones. This is a good example of why we need to be more aware of how we move once we get more "advanced" in age.

I am excited that we are seeing reductions in fractures with simple strength training protocols. I am hopeful that this information will reach the majority of people so that bone loss can be prevented and/or reversed.

It has not been that long ago that doctors believed that bone loss in post-menopausal women could not be reversed. We had been led to believe that our only hope was hormone replacement therapy. The good news is that with the three natural ways of treating bone loss as outlined above, we can take more responsibility for our bone health and look forward to a better quality of life and independent living.

Osteoporosis and Osteopenia Explained

ARE YOU ENSURING THE HEALTH OF YOUR BONES?

It is easy to go through life, focusing on the "important" issues we face - taking care of the family, doing the shopping, working at our jobs, making sure our homes are clean. But how often do we really focus on ourselves? Especially on our health.

Oh yes, we may occasionally go to our doctor for a physical or perhaps we have a recurring health problem that brings us to doctors. But are we really doing everything we can to ensure the health of our bones? Probably not. It is all too common that we do not ask questions about our bone strength or about osteoporosis until a lot of damage is done.

OSTEOPENIA IS THE PRECURSOR TO OSTEOPOROSIS

Perhaps you have osteopenia. Osteopenia is the precursor to osteoporosis. When you have osteopenia, your bone mass has already thinned - not as severely as when you have osteoporosis, but you are on your way to brittle bones. Basically, you get osteopenia when your body does not build new bone mass at the rate you are losing old bone mass. Building new bone mass is called osteoid synthesis (how is that for a mouth full!). Normal bone loss is referred to by an equally challenging phrase - bone lysis.

WE WARY OF DIMINISHED BONE CALCIFICATION

Well, if you are on your way to osteoporosis, you likely have osteopenia. Your bones are getting brittle and you are more likely to have a fracture. Now, not to confuse the situation further, but you should understand how your doctor may refer to these terms. Let's say you have a regular X-ray. Your doctor notices thin bones, often referred to as diminished bone calcification. Well if that exists you have osteopenia, whether or not osteoporosis is present. There are special X-ray machines that are often used specifically for bone density testing.

MANY ISSUES REDUCE BONE MASS

Well, back to our story. Did you really take care of your bones? Unfortunately, few of us do everything we could have or should have done. Plus, events outside of our control often hasten bone loss - early onset of menopause, certain medications that reduce bone loss, smoking, drinking, you name it - sometimes it seems like everything is against us! Our poor bones. Post menopausal women are most at risk.

But have hope. Being aware of potential problems can be a lifesaver. With proper nutrition, diet and exercise bones can be regrown - bone mass ban be regenerated and osteoporosis does not have to result in life threatening hip and bone fractures. If you have not been to your doctor lately, schedule a checkup - and make sure you have your bone health tested.

Osteoporosis Vitamins? Less Expensive And Better Quality In The USA

There is broad agreement amongst osteoporosis experts about the vitamins and minerals needed to build strong bones. Recommended intake varies across health and government associations but in North America the daily recommended levels (for adults over age fifty) range as follows:

• 1,000-1,500 mg of calcium


• 800-2,000 IU of vitamin D (and possibly higher for northern regions)


• 400 mg of magnesium


• 120 mcg vitamin K

Surprisingly, the cost and availability of these osteoporosis vitamins and minerals vary significantly around the world. A full program can cost as little as $250 a year in the United States to over $700US a year in other countries. Fortunately, alternatives are available for those who are prepared to look beyond their local grocery store...and shop on-line.

CALCIUM? A GOOD START BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE

Doctors routinely advise patients to take calcium to prevent osteoporosis but offer little assistance in the selection of a high quality brand or formula. As most calcium tablets are made from limestone (which costs less than $30 a tonne) people assume that their calcium will be inexpensive-and are both surprised and confused at the huge selection and price range that faces them when they arrive at the store.

Most North Americans are familiar with the heavily marketed Caltrate brand which will cost $150-$350 and not provide the recommended levels of magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K. Customers often assume they are purchasing a superior product when they pay more but a little research will reveal better formulas on-line that cost approximately $30US a year...with the convenience of being shipped to their door.

Interestingly, some countries (such as Canada) prevent the import of low cost osteoporosis vitamins and encourage their citizens to pay extra for vitamins that are produced locally. An inexpensive osteoporosis prevention program can still be assembled...but requires more work (and more tablets) to get the recommended intake.

Calcium/magnesium formulas are readily available in most countries and are often the foundation of an osteoporosis prevention program. But prices vary substantially even for this modest first step. Canadians will pay approximately $70US a year for two tablets a day purchased at a drug store. Europeans will pay approximately $50US for a years supply from on-line supplier such as Barrett and Holland. Americans are the fortunate ones again as they will pay only $22US for this very simple formula.

VITAMIN D. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL...AND YOU ARE PROBABLY DEFICIENT

Vitamin D is absolutely essential for calcium absorption but research shows that approximately two-thirds of North Americans are vitamin D deficient during the winter months. North of Boston, Rome and Beijing, the sun's ultraviolet rays are simply not strong enough to produce vitamin D for five months or even longer.

So how much vitamin D do we need? Osteoporosis Canada recently increased its recommendation for people over fifty to 800-2,000 IU daily. But experts in the Vitamin D Council argue that we may need 5,000 IU in the winter to maintain blood levels in the middle of the recommended 75-200nmol/L range.

Despite the compelling evidence on the importance of vitamin D, many countries allow the vitamin to be sold only in 1,000 IU increments. Canadians can enjoy taking five tablets a day for six winter months for a approximately $45US. Europeans will pay about $50US a year for the joy of taking five tablets a day. And those lucky Americans can take one 5,000 IU gel tab for six months for a mere $20US.

VITAMIN K2

In Japan, vitamin K2 has been an approved medication for osteoporosis since 1995. A meta-analysis of seven Japanese studies found that vitamin K2 supplements lowered the risk of vertebral fractures by 60%, hip fractures by 77%, and nonvertebral fractures by 81%. Even Doctor Oz is encouraging the use of vitamin K2 for supporting healthy bone development.

There are two types of vitamin K2 available for osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Although the research is not conclusive regarding the superiority of MK-7 over MK-4, the popularity of MK-7 is increasing despite the higher price.

Canadians must shop around to find vitamin K2 (MK-7) in health food stores and when successful pay approximately $120US for a year's supply. Europeans will pay approximately $225US a year for vitamin K2 purchased on-line. And those lucky Americans with their competitive market will pay as little as $70US to have the vitamins shipped to their door.

STRONTIUM CITRATE

Research conducted for a French pharmaceutical company revealed that strontium reduces the rate of bone turnover, helps to build new bone of high quality and can improve bone density by 8-14% over a three year period. While the studies were conducted on a patented version of strontium, there is no evidence that prescription strontium outperforms strontium-citrate which is readily available in most health food stores.

A Canadian will pay approximately $230US for a year's supply of strontium citrate. Europeans have access to prescription strontium (strontium ranelate) but may find strontium citrate difficult to find. And those lucky Americans can buy a years supply of strontium citrate for approximately $130 a year...almost half of a what a Canadian would pay without shopping on-line.

Fortunately, American suppliers have successfully shipped their high quality and inexpensive products around the world for over half a century. Canadians and Europeans will pay approximately $470-$700 US annually for osteoporosis vitamins that include calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K2 and strontium...if they insist on shopping in local stores. Or they can pay approximately $250 annually by buying on-line from an American manufacturer that meets the highest standards for quality control.

As osteoporosis vitamins must be taken for 30-40 years, shopping on-line can provide significant savings as well as convenience. These savings will range from $230-450 annually...but even more compelling is that the savings add up to $2,300-$4,500 over a decade.

For information on high quality osteoporosis supplements that can be purchased on-line...visit http://www.osteoporosis-vitamins.com/puritans-pride-vitamins.html

What You Need to Maintain Your Bone Density in Order to Fight Osteoporosis

The bones are mainly composed of collagen and calcium phosphate. Collagen, the connective tissue hardened part of the bone is that the calcium phosphate, and bone health, his life has been significantly reduced due to bone fractures. That is why it is essential to complement this framework with vitamins and minerals needed to maintain good bone density at the time of his life, when bone density is likely to deteriorate.

It starts to happen, aged 30 to 35 and women at menopause accelerates when their ovaries stop producing the hormone estrogen, which is needed to maintain bone health. At the time of their bone mass drops former involves the creation of a condition known as the osteopenia, or reduced bone mass, osteoporosis and then, when bones are fragile, porous and very sensitive fractures.

Before looking at what we can do to improve your chances of developing osteoporosis, is close to how to develop the bone, making it easier to understand the corrective measures that can be taken.

Calcium is the most common mineral in the body, and the vast majority is in bones and teeth. Phosphorus is also important for bone health because, as already mentioned, which is composed of collagen in the bones, which hardened by calcium phosphate. The two main uses of phosphorus in bone structure of animals and metabolism, as phosphates are also essential for the vast majority of the production of energy from chemical reactions in your body.

Calcium has other functions within the organization with the exception of bones, but included the exchange of fluids within and between cells, maintaining your heart and blood clotting. Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium from their diet, through the membrane of the duodenum. More calcium is absorbed in the small intestine, and calcium is also the majority of jobs when it is a form soluble in water.

In fact, the reason that in his kidney stones, for example, is that calcium is insoluble by the formation of calcium oxalate oxalic acid in foods such as soya beans and rhubarb. Fat regimes May also slow the absorption of calcium.

The estrogen plays an important role in bone physiology, and is an important factor in maintaining bone density in women. Bone is living tissue and is constantly absorbed and transformed life. The role of estrogen is a good balance between osteoclasts, cells that absorb bone, and osteoblasts, cells that the new bone tissue.

When estrogen is bad, this balance is lost, and instead of bone formation and resorption, constantly, to take place in surges, an initial area of new bone is formed, and then produce the absorption of some weeks later, resulting in a structure where there is a gap between the areas of bone. Over time, these increases in the gaps and weaken the integrity of bone structure.

This is not all. The effect of estrogen is to limit the period of active osteoclasts, so that areas of the bone is absorbed by the body are relatively low, so that the bone cavity can be removed easily fill with new bone by osteoblasts, which are driven by estrogen. When estrogen is imperfect, is not only the activity of bone, osteoblasts reduced, but the bone absorption of osteoclast activity is not regulated, and the deepest holes in the bone structure of osteoblasts able to fill.

The result is the loss of bone, more bone is reabsorbed formed. The end result of all that is the spongy bone tissue with many tiny holes and also with larger areas of bone missing. Finally, given a critical point and fractures in normal use. A simple transfer from one stage to another of breaking a bone in his weakest point, as the hip, where the collar bone thinning.

Not everyone is in the same risk, and there are certain risk factors, you should be aware of each of which could increase the potential for the development of weak bones. The condition affects mainly white or Asian women, and those with a small frame. If you smoke and drink too much alcohol, are also more prone to osteoporosis, even if exercise can help prevent. An inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D also helps, and magnesium is an essential element of the development of strong bones.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture has conducted surveys that show American women only 50% of calcium recommended for good bone density. It is not only on foods that calcium is necessary for bone formation, but also magnesium and boron, and vitamin D helps calcium absorption in the intestine.

If you're on steroids, can make you prone to the disease of fragile bones. Unfortunately, the symptoms of osteoporosis is not clear until it has been a significant amount of bone loss, which explains why women after menopause, and more than 65 years, there should be a Exploration of bone density (DXA test). It is important to understand that osteoporosis is a disease that is not considered as such: you can not "capture", but was prepared following a gradual reduction in bone mineral density of your structure.

Their diet is important for you to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis later in life, and your lifestyle is also important. To reduce their daily consumption of alcohol will certainly help, and cigarette smoking has further delayed the activity of bone cells to create. Calcium and vitamin D help, but not limited to them.

If you want to maintain the smooth functioning of the bone and beyond menopause through the stage of life, you should take a supplement containing a balanced combination of vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy balance between the loss natural and bone regeneration. There is more to ensure that only calcium and vitamin D supplement to a balanced and takes them out of hand. You can watch the knowledge that you do what is good for your body and bone density.

Yoga Therapy For Osteoporosis: An Effective Way To Find Relief

Osteoporosis is a serious condition that threatens millions of men and women around the world. Characterized by bones that thin with age to the point of becoming brittle, it can lead to fractures, debilitating pain, and lack of mobility. Yoga therapy for osteoporosis has been found to be an effective form of treatment for the condition. When used as part of the daily regimen, yoga could actually slow the progress of osteoporosis in the body. In some cases, it has even been found to reverse the damage that has already occurred. Researchers believe that yoga can actually prevent osteoporosis from setting in. When individuals are committed to this low impact form of exercise from an early point in their lives, it can benefit them for years to come. Studies have actually demonstrated bone growth for people who included a yoga workout in their lives over the course of two years. Those participants in the study who did not do yoga experienced bone loss.

Dealing with Bone Loss: Heading it Off at the Pass with Yoga

The secret of yoga appears to rest in the fact that it revolves around exercises that rely on the body's weight. Other forms of exercise that are beneficial include walking, dancing, hiking, and golf. Adding additional stress to the body's framework of muscles and bone encourages bone growth and improves bone density. With strength comes more flexibility and mobility as well. It's all about continuing to make the body work, but in a low impact form of exercise that will not put too much stress on the bones. This is especially important for those who are already dealing with osteoporosis, whether the condition is in its initial stages or has advanced. High impact forms of exercise are likely to lead to fractures. However, the gentle movements that are a part of yoga are beneficial, building stronger, healthier bones without the strain.

Yoga Movements that are Most Effective

While yoga therapy for osteoporosis is effective in general, there are specific poses or movements that are especially beneficial. The extended triangle pose is one movement that places stress on the lower part of the body, resulting in an improvement in strength as a result. It also stretches the body, making individuals more limber. The Bridge Pose is beneficial for the spine, acting as an effective stretch that strengthens as well. The Seated Twisting Pose also promotes good spinal health. The Twisted Triangle Pose is beneficial in reducing the chance of fractures as it builds strength in joints and bones. The Extended Side Angle Pose and Locust Pose are recommended as well, the latter especially effective for the spine. The Tree Pose and Half Moon Pose are other popular movements that gently strengthen the body while easing pain.

A Positive Choice at Any Age

Many choose yoga to ease the effects of osteoporosis on the body. However, this form of exercise is important at any age. The younger people are when they begin practicing yoga, the better. Yoga has remarkable benefits for the human body, providing an effective form of stress relief, and helping those who practice to maintain emotional balance. It is especially effective for women in staving off osteoporosis, but is an effective alternative for men as well. Those who practice yoga tend to maintain flexibility and coordination well into their advancing years. In effect, yoga holds off the aging process as it keeps the body strong.

Are Bone Density Tests a Waste of Time?

Degenerative bone diseases are very common. Many people drink all of the milk that they can in order to prevent osteoporosis from affecting them, but sometimes this is just not enough. One of the main keys to effective treatment for osteoporosis, brittle bone disease and various other bone conditions is early detection. Here are some signs that may indicate that you should consider having a bone density test done, in order to determine whether or not you are at risk for a bone disorder.

Women between the ages of fifty-five and sixty-five, particularly those who have gone through or have began menopause, should consider having a bone density test. The reason is because bone health is known to decrease significantly among women who have gone through menopause, due to the drop in estrogen that the body experiences.

People who are over the age of fifty and have a family history of bone disease should also think about having a bone density test. Many bone conditions are known to be hereditary. Anyone who has a family history of brittle bone disease, a condition that also affects children, should have this test done at the first sign of bone disease.

Anyone who has problems with absorbing nutrients or who lacked a well balanced diet when they were younger should consider having a test for bone density. The reason is because diet is known to play a major role in bone health. If your diet does not consist of adequate amounts of Calcium, Vitamin D or other essential nutrients, there is a possibility that you may have a degenerative bone disease. Keep in mind that certain eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, may have prevented nutrient absorption.

Keep in mind that certain medical insurance companies may or may not cover the cost of a bone density test, depending on risk factors associated with your bone health. If you have gone through menopause, are on certain medications or have certain pre-existing medical conditions which may cause you to experience a bone disorder, it is possible that they may cover the cost. However, there are many insurance companies that will not cover the cost. Since a bone density test is an important key to prevention and treatment for a bone disorder, it is important to remember that it is well worth the cost if you can afford to cover it yourself.

So is a bone density test a waste of time? Absolutely not. It is an essential step in the way to finding out if you need to do something more to tackle a problem with brittle bones. And if you do, then bear in mind that there are some companies around that manufacture some of the very best organic treatments for osteoporosis, and you've probably never heard of them.

So get out there and grab yourself a bone density test if you're worried.

How to Deal With Chronic Osteoporosis Pain

Osteoporosis pain usually involves suffer from agonizing fractures, which can take a few months to mend. On the whole, the pain stops as the fracture repairs. New fractures are likely to heal in about three months. Osteoporosis pain that goes on after that time period is usually considered chronic pain.

A cause of chronic osteoporosis pain is vertebral fractures. While some people have no pain during vertebra, others have muscle spasms and suffer from pain that last long after the fracture has healed.

Pain is the body's way informing you that you have an injury. When your bones break, nerves send pain messages through the spinal cord to the brain, which interprets them.

Your emotional attitude can set the way you react to pain. Depression seems to increase pain perception and it also decreases your ability to cope with it. Treat the depression and you will treat the pain at the same time.

Chronic osteoporosis pain lasts beyond the usual time for healing. It interferes with normal life. While the injury has healed, the pain continues. The pain message may be triggered by muscle tension, weakness, spasms, or stiffness.

Your feelings of anger or fear can worse the osteoporosis pain, no matter what its cause. Chronic pain affects all areas of your life and should be taken seriously. Consult your physician about managing chronic osteoporosis pain.

Some classic dealing with pain methods include using heat and ice, undergoing Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), using braces or supports, exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture, and massage.

One option will be using hot showers or hot packs to ease chronic pain. Alternatively, cold packs or ice packs can also relieve pain. In either case, apply the pack to your skin for 15 to 20 minutes.

Exercise is another option because it raises the body's level of endorphins which are natural pain killers produced by the brain.

Physical therapy can help you learn correct posture and movements to build up your muscles without weakening your spinal column. Water therapy is much recommended for chronic osteoporosis pain sufferers.

Acupuncture can stimulate nerves which trigger the brains to release endorphins.

Don't expect to be cured in one session, though. Acupuncture applies direct pressure through the use of special needles to the areas that trigger pain.

As a final point, massage therapy can help you handle chronic osteoporosis pain. It can be a light, slow circular motion with the fingertips or a deep kneading motion that moves from the center of the body. Massages relieve pain, relaxes stiff muscles, and smoothes out muscle knots. If you have spinal osteoporosis, deep muscle massage should not be done on the back.

To conclude, those are some methods to deal with chronic pain.

Breast Cancer and the Problem of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, the loss of bone mass and structure, is made haste by the unexpected drop in estrogen levels that happens as a woman enters menopause, either in nature, by surgical taking away of the ovaries before age 45, or by premature menopause caused by breast cancer treatment. Estrogen keeps the bones; hence estrogen shortage is an exact risk factor for osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis could happen at roughly age forty-five years or anytime after. It is particularly significant for women experience undertaking treatment for breast cancer to be informed concerning the risk factors, detection and prevention of osteoporosis.

While the precise cause of breast cancer is not identified, the risk of developing it enhances with age. The risk is chiefly high in women over the age of 60. Due to their age, these women are already at increased risk for osteoporosis. Given the increasing occurrence of the disease and the development of long-term survival rates, bone health and fracture prevention have become significant health issues amongst its survivors.

Both osteoporosis and invasive breast cancer frequently have no symptoms as long as the early stages of the disease. Postmenopausal women ought to be conscious of their individual risks for each of these diseases.

Women who have had breast cancer treatment perhaps at increased risk for osteoporosis and break for some reasons. First, estrogen has a protecting effect on bone, and reduced levels of the hormone trigger bone loss. Due to chemotherapy or surgery, lots of its survivors feel a loss of ovarian function, and as a result, a drop in estrogen levels. Women who were premenopausal before their cancer treatment tend to experience menopause earlier than those who have not had the disease.

Powerful chemotherapy drugs and estrogen-blocking hormone treatments are very effectual in treating breast cancer. But in the progression they might be putting women at risk of another disease: osteoporosis.

For premenopausal women treated for breast cancer, osteoporosis is a matter as well. As well as the likely effect of chemotherapy on bones, the cancer treatment might stimulate early menopause, putting this group at a similar risk as older women in menopause.

Certain drugs applied to treat breast cancer might assist prevent osteoporosis. The drug tamoxifen is utilized to prevent estrogen from fueling cancer cell development. But since it is not stopping the body's creation of estrogen such as aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen has been exposed to add to bone density in postmenopausal women. Tamoxifen is utilized by women who have been diagnosed with the cancer as well as women at high risk for the disease. Additionally, the drug raloxifene, which is applied to treat osteoporosis, was lately discovered to be effectual in preventing the cancer in women at high risk.

Herbal Medicines For Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, or "brittle bones," occurs when the bone density is reduced, resulting in thin, weak, and porous bones. The bone becomes thin due to a loss of calcium, causing persistent backache, in the neck, rib, and hip area, The back gradually becomes stooped, reducing height. The causes of osteoporosis are varied, and include:

menopause, when the female hormone estrogen is no longer produced (estrogen has a protective effect on the bones)

deficiency in calcium and vitamins C and D

malabsorption

long-term use of corticosteroids

rheumatoid arthritis

immobilization

lack of sunshine.

Treatment

Diet and Nutrition

Increase your intake of dark green, leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, fish, beans, peas, dark blue­black berries, cherries, raspberries, citrus-rinds, and colorful fruits. Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates, fat, animal products, and fizzy drinks. Dietary supplements include vitamins B6 100mg, folic acid 1mg, B12 1mg, calcium citrate 1g, and magnesium citrate 500 mg daily. An alternative treatment is natural progesterone cream, with added vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Acupuncture This can restore the balance of energy in the body and provide relief from pain. Malabsorption may also be addressed.

Naturopathy Biochemic tissue salts Calc. fluor. and Calc. phos. taken four times daily for four weeks.

Massage Aromatherapeutic massage, relaxation therapy, and shiatsu may be useful.

Herbalism Treatment may include the following as teas: dong quai, false unicorn root, black cohosh, licorice, and fennel.

Osteopathy (Including Cranial) Gentle techniques for joint mobility will maintain musculoskeletal integrity.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

AS is a degenerative rheumatic disease where spinal joints become inflamed, stiff, and eventually fused. It develops slowly. Symptoms are usually worse after rest and later may affect the chest, shoulders, hips, and knees, spreading up to the neck in severe cases.

Treatment

Seek treatment from a registered practitioner who will prescribe according to your specific symptoms and constitution. Mobility delays fusion, and swimming and stretching may be suggested.

Tens (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) This uses electrodes to block nerve impulses and to stimulate the release of endorphins.

Hydrotherapy Epsom salt baths may be suggested, or adding aroma therapeutic oils to the bathwater, including lavender, rosemary, and basil. Massage with these oils may also relieve symptoms.

Homeopathy Treatment should be constitutional, but Arnica, Rhus tox. and Bryonia may be appropriate short term remedies.

Herbal Medicine

Herbal treatment may consist of black willow, devil's claw, and bogbean, taken as teas.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Acupuncture and Osteopathy These can be helpful.

How Much Do You Know About Osteoporosis? There is a Lot to Know!

In the past , osteoporosis received relatively little attention among medical professionals because there was so little that could be done to treat this condition. It has always been known how serious osteoporosis is (hip fractures, need for nursing home care etc.) but there was not much that could be done to change the progression of the disease process.

Over recent years there have been substantial advancements in the treatment of osteoporosis. There are now medications that have been proven to be effective at actually increasing bone mass. Furthermore, there has been substantial progress in the evaluation and monitoring of the condition.

In the past, women's health care providers could only give their patients the following recommendations to manage/prevent osteoporosis:

- take Vitamin D and calcium supplements

- get sun exposure and exercise

- take hormonal supplements, if appropriate, based on their medical history

Now , with the development of bone-building medications and the advanced technology to monitor bone density, the management of osteoporosis is approached very differently as the focus is no longer on prevention, but instead, on treatment.

Like so many other medical illnesses, there are no signs or symptoms of this disease until it is manifested by clinical problems resulting from its long term effects (spontaneous fractures etc.) . As a result , compliance with treatment programs for osteoporosis are poor, as there is no perceived benefit to the patient until it is too late to make a significant difference in their prognosis.

Be proactive when it comes to learning about osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about bone health. If you have a family history of osteoporosis it is even more important that you address this topic at an early age.

Years ago, it didn't seem to matter whether this problem was addressed as there was so little that could be done. I hope I am helping women (and men) realize that this is definitely not the case today.

I simply want to raise awareness about osteoporosis. There are extensive resources available on the management of osteoporosis. Check out the many government-sponsored health organizations for more information. Hip fractures, in particular, account for so much morbidity and need for nursing home care it is astounding.

Here is the World Health Organization (WHO) fracture risk tool: http://shef.ac.uk/FRAX

Could Line Dancing Save You From Osteoporosis?

How can it be possible to improve your bone density and have fun at the same time? A group of scientific researchers certainly thought it was possible. They gathered together 45 older women who had passed menopause, and followed them for several months as they carried out chosen exercises that were believed to improve bone density. One of them was line dancing!

YOUR BONE CELLS CHANGE WHEN YOU PUT THEM UNDER PRESSURE

Scientists have long known that pressure on bones causes them to become stronger. When your skeleton is exposed to weight bearing exercise, the osteoblasts, cells that form bone, soon begin to outnumber the osteoclasts, cells which dissolve bone tissue for remodelling. In osteoporosis there's more bone dissolving going on than building, resulting in fragile bones that break all too easily. But how much weight do you need to put on your skeleton to have a safe but positive effect?

After all if your bones are already fragile, you don't want to exert them to shocks that could bring on another break. Sit in any café in the world for an hour or so and you'll see several older women hobbling past, nervously pushing their walkers and worried that the next fall could take away their independence.

Many studies have looked at resistance training involving static weights at the gym. Although very effective, many people find it difficult to continually comply with an activity that they 'have to' do rather than look forward to. And if you're an older women who has lost her partner, then the gym, where most weight trainers are fully focused on themselves, can be yet another experience of social isolation.

THE FUN EXERCISE THAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR BONES

Researchers from the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science at Griffith University knew that to maintain compliance in the long term exercise has to be easy to do, low cost, safe and appealing. So they divided the women into groups. All the women put their happy feet on and headed out to learn line dancing at least once a week. Some of the women did loaded leg squats or foot stamping at home too.

THE WOMEN WHO WENT LINE DANCING GOT RESULTS

The force of feet hitting the floor in line dancing exerted enough pressure to make a subtle positive difference in the bones of the participants over several months. But it did more than that: The women who participated reported better balance and stronger leg muscles, and the opportunity to have fun in a group probably helped them psychologically too. I bet most of them are still dancing!

How could you use this information to make a difference in your bone health? You know how important it is to exercise, and you know that weight bearing exercise is the best for stimulating bone growth. Why not have fun in the process? You could join a local line dancing group, which will give you hours of dancing fun without needing a partner. Have fun!

Osteoporosis and Strontium - What Does the Research Say?

Research indicates that strontium can improve bone density by 8-14% over three years. But there is no evidence that prescription strontium is more effective than strontium citrate...which is available in health food stores.

What is Strontium?

Strontium is a common element (number 38 on the periodic table) which comprises about 0.04 percent of the earths crust and is also abundant in seawater. But of greatest interest to people concerned about osteoporosis is that the human body contains about 320 mg. of strontium...nearly all of which is in our bone and connective tissue.

EARLY RESEARCH ON STRONTIUM

Strontium was first listed in Squire's Companion to the British Pharma-copoiea in 1884 for osteoporosis treatment and was listed in the Dispensatory of the United States of America as late as 1955. For decades in the first half of the twentieth century, strontium salts were administered to assist with bone health.

In 1959, the Mayo Clinic investigated the effect of strontium on 32 individuals suffering from osteoporosis and concluded that "the therapeutic value of the drug appears to be established". But strontium soon fell out of favor when atomic bomb testing converted natural strontium into a radioactive form called strontium-90 which poisoned our food and water sources.  But in the 80s and 90s, a series of small studies reinforced the positive findings of the Mayo Clinic:

1981: a McGill University study involving 142 patients revealed increased bone mineral density with strontium

1989: studies involving strontium chloride showed benefits for reducing cavities and teeth sensitivity

1990s: animal studies involving strontium ranelate showed positive results

Recent Research on Strontium Ranelate and Strontium Malonate

Interest in strontium has been rekindled by a number of compelling studies conducted by pharmaceutical companies -- using ranelic acid (strontium ranelate) in Europe and now malonate in the US.

Stratos Trial (2002)

The STRATOS trial in 2002 tested strontium in doses of 170, 340 and 680 mg./day and found a significant reduction in new vertebral fractures and improved bone metabolism in the group that received 680 mg/day of strontium for two years. The authors concluded that the 680 mg./day dose offered the best combination of efficacy and safety.

Stratos Trial (2004)

The first Stratos trial was followed by a much larger study of 1,649 osteoporotic postmenopausal women over a three year period. Participants that received 680 mg. of strontium daily (as well as calcium and vitamin D supplements) increased lumbar bone mineral density by an average of 14.4 percent and femoral neck BMD an average of 8.3 percent.

Tropos Study (2005)

The Tropos study in 2005 focused on non-vertebral fractures amongst over 5,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. After five years, this double-blind placebo-controlled study found an 8.2% improvement in the femoral neck and a 9.8% improvement in the total hip bone density.

STRONG STUDY-PHASE II (2007)

In 2007, the American company Osteologix announced the results of its phase II clinical trial involving 289 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. It reported that at 3 months, a 680 mg. dose of strontium malonate had increased lumbar spine BMD by 2.66%. Strontium therapy was well-tolerated and side effects were generally mild in all dose groups.

IS PRESCRIPTION STRONTIUM BETTER THAN STRONTIUM CITRATE?

The earlier studies using strontium carbonate, strontium lactate, and strontium gluconate suggest that the active ingredient for strengthening bones is strontium rather than the salt combined with the mineral. The studies also suggest that the amount of strontium consumed is more important than the kind of salt that is used.

Strontium has not been approved as a drug in the United States or Canada but strontium citrate is readily available in health food stores throughout the world...as are the calcium and vitamin D supplements needed for the strontium to be effective.

Further information on the recommended dosage and timing of strontium, calcium and vitamin D supplements may be found at http://www.osteoporosis-vitamins.com

Naturopathic Remedy for Osteoporosis

As we get older, our bones tend to weaken. When it is mild, it is called loss of bone density, however if it reach the severe stage, it is called, osteoporosis. Losing bone density usually starts at the age of 40 for both women and men.

Now you don't have to go too far, and get an even harmful and not effective medication just to remedy your osteoporosis. Naturopathic remedy is now the answer for any kind of disease, one of which is osteoporosis. This is more natural. More effective and much cheaper compared to those prescribed by your doctor.

Do weight bearing exercises.

Studies show that doing this naturopathic remedy such as brisk walking will increase bone density and strengthens the bones. One of the factors for such is the hormonal balance. One of the female hormones called estrogens is believed to have a protective effect in the bones. Usually for women, the onset of osteoporosis is after their menopausal stage, when their estrogen is in low level. Stay in healthy and keep exercising a daily habit.

Diet and Nutrition

Another naturopathic remedy for osteoporosis is modifying your diet and nutrition if you have been doing a little worse in managing your diet. Include foods that are rich in calcium and Vitamin D, in which Vitamin D is available through sunshine. Example of the foods that can prevent and delay the onset of osteoporosis are green and leafy vegetables, salmon, tuna and sardines, sesame seeds, avocado, onion, garlic and eggs. Avoid nicotine and carbonated products as well as products which contain greater level of salt.

Herb

Dynaria root also called dynaria fortune is used for kidney nourishment and bone strengthening. Redinclover or trifolium pratnese containing isoflavons that may help prevent the breakdown of existing mass of bones. These two herbs have been widely and effectively as a naturopathic remedy for osteoporosis.

Be cautious.

Another good naturopathic remedy is being cautious at all time and at all means. No one will harm your own body but you yourself alone. Be careful of your fluoride intake, though it can increase bone density, however, it does not protect the bone against fracture. Evade aluminium content as well which can be obtained from cooking pots, antiperspirants and anti acids because it leads to excretion of calcium in the urine. Be careful also of the lead content, for it disrupts Vitamin D's ability of interacting with calcium.

Take note of all of this and be extra cautious with your lifestyle. The foods that you eat you eat, your exercises that you get and every activity that may affect your body. Still, prevention is better than cure. However, if unavoidable, you can resort to the points mentioned above for naturopathic remedy of your osteoporosis.

What's a Good Mattress For a Woman With Advanced Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease. To find relief to this problem, one should not solely rely on the right mattress. However, finding the right mattress to use can definitely help a lot in somehow alleviating the painful symptoms of this condition.

When you have osteoporosis, your chances of getting irreparable bone fracture are high. This is because the foundations of the bones are slowly deteriorating in function. A good mattress should be able to help correct sleep posture so you do not end up with an even more painful back ache.

Most experts will advice the use of orthopaedic beds. These are good to support the crucial areas of the body that requires the most support. You can try looking for either latex mattress or memory foam mattress. The spine-free ones are good choices.

Purchasing innerspring mattress is not a good idea as these mattresses tend to develop lumps after some time. Lumps and mattress depressions can severely damage spinal conditions. In exaggerated claims, it is like sleeping on top of a time bomb.

But anyway, your best bet is to invest in a latex mattress and memory foam mattress. They are both slightly more expensive than typical mattresses but these features a mattress that can help improve sleep posture. They are designed to alleviate back pain and provide solutions to many sleep problems.

Memory foam is denser than average mattresses. It usually has a firm surface support. When you lie on top of the mattress, it is does not provide plushy comfort but it pushes back against your body. But as it adjusts to your body temperature, it begins to lose some of its rigidness and it starts to provide comfort to the whole body.

However, even experts have to agree that a density of 4 pounds is already enough. If you purchase 5 pounds or higher, it may already be too firm. You can consult your physician and ask for an educated advice.

Latex foams naturally have 4 pounds of density. Many people have already found relief with this type of bed especially those with back problems. It alleviates body pain in such a way that the upper part of the mattress comes with firmer pincore holes that provide upper body support. The lower part cushions your lower body so there is balance.

You can greatly find relief with these two mattresses just make sure that you are purchasing the right brand of mattress.

Osteopenia Treatment - Is a Boron Supplement Necessary?

A boron supplement can assist with the absorption and utilization of calcium and magnesium. It can also help vitamin D to convert to the active form needed to support calcium absorption into the bones. Fortunately, a few delicious snacks can also provide the boron we need for healthy bones.

Boron is a trace mineral (number five in the periodic table) that is most concentrated in our bones but is also found in our thyroid glands and associated organs. Boron has been linked to significant improvements in both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis through numerous studies over the past decades. The addition of a boron supplement to an osteoporosis treatment program has become common...but is it necessary?

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?

Numerous studies have been conducted on the dietary intake of boron. A quick summary of the research is as follows.

• Boron assists with the absorption and utilization of calcium and magnesium (Feinstein, 1996)


• Boron may be essential in the conversion of vitamin D to the active form which supports calcium absorption. (Murray, 1996).


• A diet low in boron may exacerbate vitamin D and magnesium deficiencies or any condition in which these minerals are lost in urine.


• Boron is best if taken with a well balanced vitamin and mineral supplement including calcium, magnesium, and riboflavin (vitamin B2) (Hendler, 1991).


• A study involving 12 postmenopausal women who supplemented their diet with 3 mg of boron daily resulted in reduced calcium excretion by 44 percent and dramatically increased the levels of beta-estradiol, the most biologically active estrogen. (FH Nielsen, 1987)


• Boron deficiency causes decreased serum concentrations of estrogen and testosterone- which are associated with calcium loss and bone demineralization (Murray, 1996; Somer, 1995).


• Taking boron if you are already healthy and athletic doesn't seem to make any difference in bone density.

These studies have not involved the large number of participants or the many controls required of a drug trial. But they are impressive because of their consistency in showing a positive impact of boron on bone health.

HOW MUCH BORON DO WE NEED?

Although there is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for boron, 1.5 to 3.0 milligrams daily is generally considered sufficient in a healthy diet. In 2004, the NCEA (United States National Center for Environmental Assessment) increased its allowable daily dose of boron to 14 milligrams per day. Studies have shown that dosages greater than 500 milligrams per day may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

WHERE IS BORON FOUND?

Boron is mostly found in fruits (especially dried fruits), vegetables, nuts and pulses. Rich sources (in descending order) are:

• Soybeans


• Prunes


• Raisins


• Almonds


• Peanuts


• Hazelnuts


• Dates


• Red Wine

Small quantities of these foods will meet our daily requirement. For example, a half cup of prunes (about 100 grams) fulfills the daily requirement of 2 to 3 mg of boron. A boron supplement is generally not necessary for people who maintain a well-balanced diet.

Unfortunately, a typical American diet provides only 1 mg of boron per day, partly because of the enthusiasm for meat and carbohydrates rather than fruits and vegetables. A radically low-carb diet may also lack sufficient boron unless the dieter is enriching it with greens and legumes. Similarly, an extreme low fat diet may exclude the nuts that are so rich in boron. In these cases, a boron supplement may be necessary if the dieter is unwilling to make the necessary adjustments. Fortunately, a boron supplement is usually well absorbed and is generally bioavailable.

WHAT ABOUT BORON IN WATER?

Water can be a great place to get boron but it is not a reliable source because concentrations vary so much throughout the world. In the US, boron in tap water is generally low (less than 1 milligram per liter) while in some cities in Canada it provides up to 2 milligrams per liter. Boron in US and European bottled water ranges from trace amounts to 4.35 milligrams per liter. Interestingly, water supplies in northern Chile provide a high concentration of 15.2 milligrams of boron per liter! So when we travel to Chili, we can forget our boron supplement. (For more information on water sources of boron, read Bill Sardi's "In Search of the World's Best Water")

Of course, for boron to assist with bone building we must be getting adequate calcium, magnesium and vitamin D either in our diet, through supplements or ideally a combination of the two sources. For information on how boron can be added to a natural osteoporosis prevention program, visit http://osteoporosis-vitamins.com/osteoporosis-treatment-guidelines.html

Finding Natural Osteoporosis Treatments

It's interesting that many people assume that osteoporosis is a women's disease; it's true that this condition affects some four times as many women as men, but men too can suffer from this dangerous and even deadly condition.

Osteoporosis is a disease that attacks the integrity of the bone structure. This can lead to bone weakness and eventual fractures. Unfortunately many people don't know that they have this condition until a bone actually breaks. While this may not sound very dangerous - a broken bone is easily mended, right? In reality the fractures can typically happen in the areas of the back and hip. A hip fracture can be very dangerous and usually requires surgery with a hospital stay, and may interfere with one's ability to walk without assistance. In severe cases they can be deadly. Someone with osteoporosis needs to take this condition very seriously, and everyone else should be doing everything they can to avoid getting the disease in the first place.

Getting Tested

Doctors today can do a simple bone density test for those at risk for getting osteoporosis. This includes women approaching menopause, women with very small bone structure, and those taking medications that can cause the disease. The bone scan is not painful or invasive; it is something like a full-body x-ray.

Your doctor can also prescribe medications if you already have the disease or are at a greater risk for contracting it; but before that time, try taking a daily calcium supplement, exercising, and stopping smoking. It is best to avoid getting osteoporosis in the first place.

Natural Treatments

The bones are made up mostly of calcium; taking calcium supplements is one of the best forms of natural treatments. There are many reasons why the bones may have less calcium than they need to be strong and healthy. Many times it's simply genetics and the way a body is naturally. Some people may do certain things that leech calcium from the system, such as drinking large amounts of cola or other highly acidic beverages. Acid of course wears away calcium from the body's system. Smoking dehydrates the body and also damages calcium reserves. If taking a calcium supplement as a prevention for osteoporosis it's important to keep in mind that you need adequate amounts of vitamin D as this helps the body to absorb calcium properly. Most calcium supplements you purchase at the pharmacy also have vitamin D added; be sure to get one that does.

Believe it or not, exercise and weight lifting actually increases bone strength as well as muscle strength. Increasing your physical fitness levels and adding some weight lifting can also help prevent osteoporosis.

Other Vitamins and over the counter products you may want to consider and why are:

Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D supplied in high doses have shown to increase bone mass as much as 25 to 30 percent over a six month period.

Fluoride has been found to increase the bond density in older women.

Glucosamine provides cartilage nutrition for healthy joints.

Vitamin A is needed to promote healthy bones and teeth.

Vitamin E promotes the natural body healing mechanism.

Multiple Minerals are needed for healthy bones and teeth.

Boron is known as the calcium helper and assists calcium absorption and utilization in the body.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Osteoporosis and Stress - Stress Can Be Bad For Your Bones

During the past decade, approximately 30% of Americans and Canadians have consistently reported negative health impacts as the result of the stress in their lives. While people often associate headaches, indigestion and insomnia with stress, research has shown that stress can lead to the development of chronic conditions within a few years and one of those conditions can be osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis and stress are often linked because sufferers forgo the weight bearing exercises that are so important for bone health. But equally important, they make nutritional choices that limit calcium intake and may even cause calcium to leach from their bones.

NUTRITIONAL CHOICES

People who feel stressed frequently seek comfort foods that lack the proper nutrition to build healthy bones. Sweet snacks and fast food meals rarely contain the calcium, magnesium and vitamin K that are essential for the prevention of osteoporosis. And a poor choice of beverages can be equally damaging. Excess soda, coffee and alcohol can be particularly harmful to bone renewal.

Sufficient vitamin D is also essential for calcium absorption but is difficult to attain even from a good diet. People with busy schedules may fail to spend time outdoors where they can get enough of the sunshine vitamin. And in northern regions, the sun lacks sufficient ultraviolet radiation to produce vitamin D during the winter months. Research shows that over 75% of Canadians and Americans are vitamin D deficient for at least part of the year.

STOMACH UPSETS

Stress affects most organs of the body and the stomach is no exception. Stress can cause diarrhea, decreased absorption of nutrients and an elevated loss of calcium and magnesium which are essential for healthy bones. Low magnesium also elevates the secretion of stress hormones and makes relaxation even more difficult.

Osteoporosis and stress are also linked through the excess secretion of stomach acids. Acid reflux is now so common in North America that prescription drugs designed to treat the problem are among the most widely-sold drugs in the world. Unfortunately, these drugs are so effective at eliminating the pain of acid reflux that people are tempted to rely on their medication rather than changing their eating habits and lifestyle. Few realize that the reduction in stomach acid severely hampers calcium absorption which is essential for bone health.

EXCESS CORTISOL

When we feel stressed, our adrenal glands increase the production of cortisol which in excessive amounts can also cause a loss of bone density. While Cushings Disease is known to cause bone loss as a result of excess cortisol production, few health practitioners have linked osteoporosis and stress as a risk from too much cortisol. As bone loss occurs very slowly, the toll of a stressful lifestyle may not be felt until we enter middle age when it is more difficult to increase bone density.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

In addition to conducting a lifestyle assessment, there is broad agreement on steps that can be taken to reduce our stress. These include:

1. Spending more time in quiet places...sitting quietly or meditating
   


2. Exercising outdoors. (walking, jogging, cycling and swimming)
   


3. Practicing yoga or tai chi
   


4. Feeding our passions. Doing something each day that we absolutely love to do.
   


5. Listening to beautiful, relaxing music

Relaxation and meditation CDs and MP3s are widely available to help us reduce our stress. And the producers of holographic recordings claim that (with the help of a good headset) the special rhythms and tones of their recordings can bring the listener from Beta (high activity/stress) to Alpha (the relaxation response) and even to Theta (an even slower wave length attained during meditation.)

Osteoporosis and stress do not have to be linked together if we exercise, eat well and take time for ourselves. Our bones can remain strong throughout our long lives... if we live a life of joy and of balance.

For information on inexpensive vitamins that address osteoporosis and stress....visit http://osteoporosis-vitamins.com/osteoporosis-treatment-guidelines.html

Bone Loss and You - How to Handle Osteoporosis

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you're certainly not alone. Ten million Americans currently suffer from this disease, and 80% of those are women. It's something that one out of every two women will have to deal with in her lifetime. Just imagine a group of ten of your friends and know that the odds are that five of them will have osteoporosis.

There is a great deal of information available on osteoporosis, and new product development and research are being done to help prevent this disease. So what does that mean for you?

One of the most important steps you can take in living with osteoporosis is to be informed. Osteoporosis can take women by surprise, because there are very few symptoms in the early years. You can go decades without knowing that you have osteoporosis. In many cases, a diagnosis isn't made until a serious fracture occurs, which can be devastating.

As with most diseases, early detection is a key factor to managing osteoporosis. Bone density scans can be ordered by your doctor on a regular schedule. This way, you know if your bones are weakening over the years. If a loss of bone density is revealed, there are steps you can take to improve your condition.

There are many steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis from worsening. Simple changes in diet and nutrition can help slow or stop bone loss. Adding a calcium supplement as well as vitamin D daily is an important step.

Additionally, talk to your doctor about adding weight bearing exercise, as well as general fitness activities like walking or bike riding to your routine. If you have already suffered a fracture, you may benefit from physical therapy to improve your bone health.

If you smoke or drink excessively, you should consider the health risks involved in these activities. These both decrease the absorption of calcium, which can weaken bones.

There is a wide variety of treatment options for osteoporosis. These range from hormone replacement therapy, which is very effective for women who are menopausal, to other medications that can help slow or stop bone loss. Some medications are taken daily, while the newest types of drugs can be administered once a month or even once a year. There are certainly a number of choices to discuss with your health provider. Be sure to talk about the benefits of each, as well as possible side effects.

You can start tackling osteoporosis even before it starts. It's never too early to build strong bones and start living a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to prevent and treat osteoporosis will help you maintain an active lifestyle and avoid life threatening falls and fractures later in life.

Know the Cause of Osteoporosis and How to Cure Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects a lot of people every year. It is a disease that affects the bone density, it makes your bone density lesser and it will make your bone more easy to have a fractures. A lot of people don't know when or how do they get osteoporosis, they knew when they have osteoporosis when they check their health in hospital. There are reasons why people are having osteoporosis, and some of them are really dangerous.

Osteoporosis happens when an imbalance between the new bones and when the body is trying to absorb the old bone. And then If your body does not produce enough new bone, you will get osteoporosis. If your body does not absorb old bone quickly enough, you will still get osteoporosis. At young age, the body makes new bones from calcium and phosphate. And by the time we are old enough, your body will not the same when you are young, the way the body absorb the calcium and phosphate are different.

Women are more easily to have osteoporosis than men due to menopause. When women arrive in menopause phase, their estrogen levels decrease significantly, because that will increasing the chance for having osteoporosis. That is why for women, it is suggested to take calcium supplement when in menopause phase, to cover the bone loss. Eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia also have a big chance having osteoporosis. These diseases makes your bone more fragile over time, because calcium and phosphate in the body is not in a proper amount, because it doesn't allow the vitamins to enter your body.

It is better if you go to your doctor, and check your bone density to know are you having an osteoporosis or not. By knowing it, you could prevent it or cure osteoporosis. Now days, for osteoporosis there are already a way to prevent or maybe to cure that. By taking the right supplement for your body, it will increase your bone density, makes you more stronger than before.

Strontium For Osteoporosis Treatment? Calcium and Vitamin D Are Essential For Success

Strontium is a dual-action agent that both reduces bone resorption and increases high quality bone formation. One pharmaceutical company claims that it could fundamentally change the treatment paradigm of patients with osteoporosis.

WHAT IS STRONTIUM?

Strontium is one of the most abundant elements on our planet. There is a higher percentage of strontium in the earth's crust than carbon... and it is the most abundant trace element in our oceans. Of special interest to people concerned about osteoporosis is that the human body contains approximately 320 mg. of strontium-most of which can be found in the bones and connective tissue.

Unlike the radioactive strontium-90 that contaminated our food and water after nuclear weapon testing in the 50s, natural strontium has been used for osteoporosis treatment long before the pharmaceutical industry took an interest in bone health.

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?

Research has shown that strontium can make a significant contribution to bone health without any apparent side effects. From 2002 to 2007, the French pharmaceutical company Servier conducted a study on 1,649 women with osteoporosis over a three year period and found an increase of 14.4 percent in lumbar bone mineral density and 8.3 percent increase in the femoral neck. A later study conducted over five years on 5,000 women with osteoporosis found a 9.8% improvement in total hip density.

CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D ARE ESSENTIAL

While strontium is clearly an outstanding form of osteoporosis treatment, it only improves bone health when combined with 1,500 mg of calcium and 800 IUs of vitamin D daily. To complicate things further, calcium supplements are best absorbed in 500 mg. increments and when taken with meals. Strontium, on the other hand, is most effective when taken on an empty stomach (2-3 hours after a calcium supplement or meal) and before going to bed.

Many people find this regime too demanding. In recognition of this, pharmaceutical companies have developed drugs that can be taken once a week and are now searching for a pill or injection that can be taken annually in a doctor's office. These solutions, however, are often accompanied by significant side effects.

For those who have the discipline and determination to take three pills a day....strontium is an invaluable alternative for osteoporosis treatment. It is also an affordable treatment, as a program of strontium citrate, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin K can be purchased for less than $200 a year.

Backed by Science, Rhythmic Bioidentical Hormones Reverse Osteoporosis

A condition in which bones become thin and porous as a result of calcium loss, osteoporosis affects women eight times more than men. A bone scan can determine if one has this condition. Statistics say that one in two women over age fifty, or a woman in menopause, will suffer at least one lifetime fracture from osteoporosis. There is recent evidence that biomimetic rhythmic bioidentical hormone therapy can prevent osteoporosis.

Research studies have also shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) lowers the risk of osteoporosis-related hip fractures and other fractures in postmenopausal women. When we run out of estrogen and progesterone hormones, our bones begin to die very quickly. Bones have their own life cycle or metabolism, a rhythm of growth and death governed by estrogen and progesterone. The fall off of estrogen during perimenopause means no peak of estrogen activity to make progesterone receptors which would build bone. This is the beginning of osteoporosis.

Estrogen controls osteoclast activity. Osteoclasts are bone cells that "eat up" old bone for disposal. Progesterone controls osteoblastic activity. Osteoblasts are bone cells that build fresh new bone. In this case progesterone grows bone, and estrogen takes it away so that new bone can grow again next month. Without this balanced interplay, one of two things can happen: Without estrogen, bone would overgrow into a cancer- like state, or without progesterone, unopposed estrogen would make bones thin, fragile, and porous - osteoporotic.

Women in menopause who take rhythmic hormones are seeing reversal of bone loss, and the end of osteoporosis. Why? Because it is rhythmic biomimetic bioidentical hormone replacement that helps slow bone thinning or loss and causes an increase in bone thickness. Estrogen replacement alone, because it takes away bone, should be bad for osteoporosis and seems to be so in conventional low doses. Estrogen replacement helps for a little while because it does prevent apoptosis in the bone-building cells, the osteoblasts; but, unless progesterone comes in to stimulate osteoblasts, not much bone grows from estrogen replacement alone.

Newer drugs on the market act to stimulate osteoblasts in an artificial way. But it can't be good. Living on drugs that exacerbates bone growth is the epitome of "moving a marble." Increasing supplemental calcium is really pretty useless. No claims have ever been made by the medical establishment that increasing calcium can really prevent or cure osteoporosis.

Natural transdermal, bioidentical hormone replacement prescribed in a normal rhythmic cycle can do what none of those approaches can do: revive your bones. Biomimetic hormone restoration therapy is accurate, it's biomimetic and mimics the up and down rhythms of hormone blood levels in a normal menstrual cycle.

Patients on rhythmic bioidentical hormones and their doctors are raving about the turnaround in bone density scans, saying that it is a remarkable benefits from taking rhythmic bioidentical hormones. A Santa Fe medical practitioner, Doctor Deb Werenko said in a YouTube interview, "Some of my patients have anxiety and depression, bone loss, hot flashes, or low libido, and all those things seem to improve dramatically when I start them on the rhythmic biomimetic hormone replacement therapy. Osteoporosis - I'm seeing reversal; libido and relationship issues seem to improve, and I have exciting, exciting results."

Osteoporosis, Heartburn And Celiac Disease: Is A Gluten-Free Diet Safer Than Prilosec For Reflux

Osteoporosis may be increased by acid reflux medications: Osteoporosis is increased by long-term use of acid blocker medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPI's), like nexium, prilosec, and prevacid according to a new study. These PPI medications consistently are at the top of the list of most commonly prescribed drugs. Prilosec OTC is also available without a prescription. When heartburn, the primary symptom of acid reflux, is chronic doctors usually prescribe PPI's like nexium.

Heartburn is a common unrecognized symptom of celiac disease:

Most doctors are unaware that heartburn is a common symptom of undiagnosed celiac disease. Most are also unaware that osteoporosis is a common complication of this disorder. As a result, medications that may cause or worsen osteoporosis are being given to or taken by people who have heartburn due to unrecognized CD. The result is that the misdiagnosis of the root cause of the problem leads to treatment that may also be causing or worsening osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis, though it increases with age, occurs earlier in bowel diseases:

The prevalence is less than 15% at age 50 but increases to almost 30% at age 60, 50% at age 70 and 70% at age 80. As a practicing gastroenterologist I have noted an increasing number of below 60-year-old women and many more men who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis who have never been screened for celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, both intestinal conditions commonly associated with an increase risk of osteoporosis.

Few doctors are aware that osteoporosis and heartburn are associated with celiac:

One study has highlighted the unawareness of primary care doctors that osteoporosis is associated with celiac disease. A large survey documented that less than half of doctors are aware that osteoporosis is a manifestation of celiac disease. Heartburn is also a common symptom also not commonly recognized by doctors as a manifestation of celiac disease. Gluten ingestion can impair gastric emptying resulting in more gastro-esophageal reflux. Initiation of a gluten-free diet has been shown to diminish reflux symptoms and result in the healing of esophagitis.

Reflux symptoms respond to a gluten-free diet:

Several patients I have evaluated for reflux symptoms, particularly when these symptoms were poorly controlled or the patient was considering surgery rather than take daily medications, were found to have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. In my experience, reflux symptoms frequently dramatically improve on a gluten free diet.

The positive effect of a gluten-free diet in relieving heartburn is not limited to celiac disease:

The beneficial effect of a gluten-free diet has been observed not only in celiac disease patients but also in those not meeting strict diagnostic criteria for CD. Prior to starting a gluten-free diet I took a daily proton pump inhibitor myself. After a GFD, I occasionally experience heartburn when I drink too much coffee or combine coffee, alcohol and chocolate in the same meal. In my opinion, everyone with significant heartburn or a diagnosis of reflux disease should be screened for gluten sensitivity and/or consider a trial of GFD.

How much does celiac disease increase the risk of osteoporosis?

How much celiac disease increases osteoporosis is debated. Studies have shown from small increases (1.5-1.8 times) to much larger (3-5 times) increases of osteoporosis in CD. Such increased risk has prompted for calls for screening all people with celiac disease for osteoporosis and all people with osteoporosis for celiac disease.

Increased risk of osteoporosis raises concern about long-term use of acid blocking medication:

With this new study raising the concern about long-term use of acid blocking medications causing an increase risk of osteoporosis and the frequently unrecognized association of heartburn with undiagnosed celiac disease the use of these medications without excluding CD and considering this side effect is dangerous. Do not blindly accept a doctor's offer to write you a prescription for acid blocker medications without looking further into the possible causes of your heartburn as well as the risks of simply treating your symptom with a medication that may actually be worsening the complication risks of an underlying undiagnosed problem that can be simply treated by diet.

For more information and the knowledge you need to be your own advocate for food related illness and digestive conditions be sure to go to the Food Doc website and blog to subscribe to the Food Doc Blog. Don't miss any of the Food Allergies Specialist - the Food Doc online articles. The Food Doc blog and http://www.thefooddoc.com exist to provide you with insights from the Food Doc to eat right to feel right.

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