Osteoporosis Research Paper

Osteoporosis is a scary thing to think about, and it makes me think of getting older…Yikes! Osteoporosis is generally a disease affecting the back, but did you know it can also affect your wrists, upper arms, and femur! I did not, but I do now. There are risk factors you can look for. There are ways to prevent osteoporosis as well. I also found out some other interesting facts that are both reassuring and helpful if I should discover that I do have it.

I am a woman under the age of when osteoporosis is most likely to start; however, I am not far off from it, so the research was an eye opener. I injured my L4 and L5 four times now. I suffer from chronic lower back pain. The thought of dealing with osteoporosis is heart sinking. After doing

some research, I found that this is not really a risk factor. My mother having osteoporosis is. She does not have a stooped posture (a sign of osteoporosis), but she has lost inches in her height (also a sign). I have broken bones, but only if I did not know the reason for them being broken would it have been a factor for possible osteoporosis. If I had broken them without the knowledge for the why, I would probably want to go get my bone density measured. I would want to make sure my spongy bone (also known as trabeculae) is dense. The more space that is present in there the more fragile your bones are going to be. Getting your bone density checked is great, but a blood test can be done to help rule out any other conditions that may be causing the loss of bone density. Being young can make you feel strong and healthy, but it can also make you ignorant to the unknown. To become knowledgeable on how to prevent something that could possibly happen is to be better equipped for it not to happen.
Preventing osteoporosis is pretty simple. Eating a diet rich in Calcium, or taking dietary supplements (calcium/vitamin D) which you can get from you doctor or over the counter. Stay fit by exercising regularly. Going to the gym is not the only way to do this. Housework, working in the yard, or just taking your dog for a walk are simple great ways to stay active and should be done for at least 30 minutes a day. Getting out into the sun during you walk or yard work is not just helping with your exercise, but it also helps your skin soak up some of that wonderful vitamin D that is imperative for bone reclamation and progression. Smoking is an unhealthy and a bad habit that increases your risk to osteoporosis, so if you do not participate in this activity do not start now. Exercising is helpful with coordination and confidence, but it will not prevent you from falling all the time. Keep those floors free of hazards to reduce the risk in falls. The condensed amount of falls made the less likely a broken bone will happen. Accidents do happen and sometimes things cannot be prevented.
Having osteoporosis is not the end of your life. It can still be managed. Get out into the sun and let you skin drink up that vitamin D. Moderation is important, so do not go falling asleep in that warm sunlight because then you may have more than osteoporosis to worry about, like a nasty sunburn. Get started on those dietary vitamins of Calcium with Vitamin D, better late than never. Exercise is always a good way to keep your body strong and moving. Avoid picking up bad habits such as smoking, drinking, or long steroid use. Live life to the fullest, but be fully aware of what life has to offer!