DISORDERS

Disorder: OSTEOPOROSIS

Description: Osteoporosis is a progressive disease in which the bones gradually become weaker and weaker, causing changes in posture and making the individual susceptible to bone fractures. The term osteoporosis, derived from Latin, literally means "porous bones." Osteoporosis is generally regarded as a metabolic bone disorder. The rate of bone loss speeds up while the rate of making bone tissue slows down. Levels of calcium and phosphate salts decline so that the bones become porous, brittle, and susceptible to fracture for lack of new bone tissue to replace the old tissue. Men also develop osteoporosis, but the number of female sufferers is much higher for several reasons: (1) the hormonal changes of menopause are a cause of osteoporosis; (2) women’s bones are usually thinner and smaller than men’s to begin with; and (3) women traditionally do not get as much vigorous, weight-bearing exercise as men, which is a strong preventive of osteoporosis.

There are two basic types of osteoporosis. Type I is believed to be caused by hormonal changes, particularly a loss of estrogen, which causes the loss of minerals from the bones. Type II is linked to dietary deficiency, especially lack of sufficient calcium and of vitamin D, which is necessary for the absorption of calcium. Recent evidence indicates that osteoporosis often begins early in life and is not strictly a postmenopausal problem. Although bone loss accelerates after menopause, as a result of the drop in estrogen levels, it begins in the premenopausal years.

Symptoms: Since bone loss causes no symptoms while it is occurring, very often a woman is unaware of having osteoporosis until a minor accident causes a bone to fracture, often a wrist or hip. While osteoporosis causes no specific symptoms until it is advanced, some early warning signs that signal bone loss is occurring include a gradual loss of height, stooping or rounding of the shoulders, and generalized aches and pains. The collapse of spinal vertebrae leads to a loss of height. After a few vertebrae collapse, the spine can become rounded, forming what is known as a "dowager’s hump," which is often accompanied by continuous back pain. Osteoporosis can also be a contributing factor in tooth loss; when the structure of the jawbone weakens, it can no longer hold the teeth firmly in place.

Incidence: The U.S. has the highest rate of osteoporotic fractures in the world. About 1.5 million fractures every year are attributable to osteoporosis, and it is the fourth leading cause of death in American women.

Causes: Many people have the impression that osteoporosis is caused solely by a dietary calcium deficiency, or that it is an inevitable part of aging. However, osteoporosis can begin in women as young as age 35 if lifestyles include such factors as chronic stress, cigarette smoking, lack of exercise, and a poor diet. Even if a woman’s estrogen levels are high and she consumes adequate calcium, the disease can still develop if these lifestyle practices, most common in Western civilization, are present. All of the following factors can influence an individual’s risk of developing osteoporosis:

Treatments: A treatment plan for osteoporosis should recreate the conditions under which normal bone building occurs, including proper diet, nutritional supplements, hormone balance, regular exercise, and avoiding known toxic factors such as cigarette smoking.

Sources:

Alternative Medicine Guide to Women’s Health Series,

By Burton Goldberg and the Editors of Alternative Medicine

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2^nd Edition

By James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.