Osteoporosis

"Brittle Bone Disease" otherwise known as Osteoporosis, is a condition where the bones become porous and fragile from mineral loss. Osteoporosis treatment is often introduced after the disease process has caused considerable damage. It progresses painlessly until a fracture occurs-typically in the wrist, hips or spine. While any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, the hip and spine are particularly vulnerable.

A hip fracture almost always necessitates hospitalization and major surgery and impacts the ability to walk unassisted, causing prolonged and often permanent disability and even death.

Interestingly, more women die from osteoporotic fractures each year than from breast and ovarian cancers combined. Spinal fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity. Even sneezing can cause the fracture of bones in the spine because of their thin and porous nature. Osteoporosis treatment is sometimes controversial, as many medical applications carry risks.

One in four women and one in eight men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis and require treatment. Many women are diagnosed with Osteopenia (bone thinning) that is not as severe as Osteoporosis or does not have all symptoms of Osteoporosis; however, Osteoporosis treatment is still recommended.

Warning Signs & Symptoms Of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis progresses silently over time therefore the warning signs for the condition also include the risk factors:

• Female of post-menopausal age (estrogen is partly responsible for keeping calcium in the bones)
• Surgical menopause (complete hysterectomy with removal of ovaries)
• History of bone fracture not attributable to an accident/injury
• Thin, small build
• Chronic use of anti-inflammatory steroids
• Excessive doses of thyroid medications or anticonvulsants
• Family history of osteoporosis or fractures
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Poor diet that does not include foods rich in calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and phosphorus
• Excessive intake of alcohol, caffeine or carbonated beverages
• Long-term smoker
• Hereditary factors (Tendency can be passed down)
• Having an overactive thyroid gland
• Diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Bone mineral exchange consists of two distinct stages:

• Bone resorption - osteoclasts on the bone's surface dissolve bone tissue and create small cavities.
• Bone formation - osteoblasts fill the cavities with new bone tissue.

Usually, bone resorption and bone formation occur in close sequence and remain balanced. Osteoporosis treatment includes medications that have one goal: to restore this delicate balance through inhibiting the activity of the osteoclasts. The inability of the body to do so is one of the causes of osteoporosis.

In our opinion this is a misguided strategy. Balancing your lymphatic system and restoring it to an alkaline pH will eliminate your body's need to pull calcium from your bones, and will allow it to redeposit the minerals back in your bones. Osteoblasts will work correctly only if sufficient magnesium is present.

Calcitonin is a hormone that occurs naturally within the body that increases bone density by affecting the levels of calcium in the blood

• Inhibits osteoclast activity
• Slows down the breakdown of bone
• Relieves pain that results from spinal fractures

Here are the biggest risk factors for osteoporosis:

• Sedentary lifestyle. The strength of our bones depends very much on the amount of physical activity we build into our lives. Regular, weight-bearing exercise such as walking, running, hiking and weight training all help to drive calcium into the bones.
• Drinking carbonated beverages. The phosphates in most sparkling drinks cause calcium to be leached from the bones.
• Too much coffee or tea. The aminstream will say that caffeine is a diuretic drug that increases the flow of urine and that causes loss of calcium and other minerals. Actually, coffee is very acidifying to the lymph, which has to be then alkalized by calcium taken from the bones.
• Menopause. Following menopause, when female hormone levels wane, calcium is leached from the bones. (Estrogen helps the bones to retain calcium.) Surgical menopause (removal of the uterus and ovaries), also precipitates calcium loss.
• Use of certain drugs. Chronic use of anti-inflammatory steroids, excessive doses of thyroid medication or anticonvulsive drugs can contribute towards bone loss.
• Lack of vitamin D and sun exposure.

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