Senior Care in Schnecksville PA
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease among aging adults, especially senior women. Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken which increases a senior’s risk of broken bones and fractures. Weakened bones can also lead to chronic pain and disability, so it is important that seniors with osteoporosis seek proper treatment. Even though it is a very common condition, there exists no cure for osteoporosis. However, it can be prevented, treated, and managed. Here’s what seniors need to know about this very common bone disease:
Causes:
Osteoporosis develops as people age. For women, the decrease in estrogen during menopause can cause osteoporosis. For people who have eaten a diet low in calcium, smoked, and/or didn’t get much exercise throughout their lifetime, the risk of osteoporosis is higher. There may also be a genetic factor as osteoporosis seems to run in families. Women are more likely to get osteoporosis than men, but many senior men are affected by this disease.
Symptoms:
Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease,” because it can be present without symptoms. Osteoporosis causes bones to lose density and become weakened. Seniors may not even know that they have it until they suffer a fracture or broken bone, which usually leads to the diagnosis.
Management and Treatment:
Osteoporosis has no cure, but it is possible to slow its progress. Eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D as well as exercising can maintain good bone health and help prevent osteoporosis from worsening. There are also several prescription medications on the market today that slow bone loss, increase bone strength and density, and even prevent fractures. There can be side-effects and/or risks to these medications, however, so they must be discussed with a doctor. For seniors with osteoporosis, taking the steps to prevent falls is very important. Since falls can result in painful and debilitating fractures for those with osteoporosis, fall prevention is a large part of osteoporosis management.
Prevention:
Osteoporosis can be prevented if adults take the steps to prevent it throughout their life. Getting plenty of vitamin D and calcium in your diet is essential for bone health as is exercising. Weight-bearing exercise is the best kind of exercise for promoting bone health. These bone-strengthening activities include lifting weights, running or jogging, and stair-climbing.
If you are considering hiring senior care in Schnecksville, PA, contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Allentown. Call today at (610)200-6097.
Source: http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/default.htm
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