Without a doubt, the single most important concern of the menopausal woman remains osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can only be prevented with the correct forms of calcium and magnesium in the proper ratio, in conjunction with vitamin D and K.
Like menopause, osteoporosis does not occur suddenly, but rather gradually, with a decrease in the ovulatory cycles beginning between the ages of 45 to 55, the timing varies greatly from individual to individual.
Several symptoms and complaints occur in postmenopausal women. These symptoms and complaints are both physical and emotional. Listed below are the major physical and emotional symptoms of menopause.
Osteoporosis is the normal loss of bone, which follows the menopause in women and occurs in all occurs in all individuals with advancing age.
Osteoporosis produces no symptoms or warning signs until a fracture occurs. Most typical are fractures of the wrist, hip, and collapse or ?crush? fractures of the spine, which produce deformity, loss of height, and severe curvature of the spine.
Osteoporosis develops less often in men than women because men have larger skeletons, bone loss starts later in life, and progresses more slowly.
There are multiple risk factors involved in osteoporosis. There are risk factors you cannot change and risk factors you can change.
AGE
The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis. As we grow older our bones become less dense and weaker, regardless of gender.
As we age bones become less dense and weaker, regardless of gender, and calcium absorption becomes less efficient.
ABSORPTION
Calcium absorption becomes less efficient as we age.
GENDER
Your chances of developing osteoporosis are 6 to 8 times greater if you are a woman than a man. Women have less bone tissue, begin to lose bone sooner, lose bone more rapidly than men, and calcium is drained from the bones during pregnancy and nursing.
BODY SIZE
Small, thin-bone women are at greater risk.
ETHNICITY
Caucasian and Asian women are at highest risk. African-American and Hispanic women have a lower but still significant risk.
HEREDITY/FAMILY HISTORY
People whose parents have a history of fractures are more likely to develop osteoporosis than those who do not have such a family history.
RISK FACTORS YOU CAN CHANGE
DIET
Clearly and indisputably the single most important factor in osteoporosis.
INACTIVITY
Research has clearly shown that physical inactivity and lack of exercise leads to bone loss, and lessens calcium absorption. Exercise increases the circulation and the absorption of calcium. It is very important to exercise at least five days a week moderately. At least 20 to 60 minutes per day without fail.
Swimming and bicycling are suggested. Increasingly doctors are recommending weight-bearing exercises such as brisk walking, aerobics, and light weightlifting.
MEDICATION
Some elements which are crucial to bone integrity can be blocked by others. For example, aluminum can block fluoride and calcium absorption which will reflect badly upon the health of your bones. Therefore it’s important to know what medications you take.
Hello and welcome to my personal blog, solely dedicated to the health and well-being of women. My name is Dorothy Rivas and I felt a great need to become an author of a blog that will deal with thematics such as menopause, pms, fibrostol and other aspects of being a woman. Since I am positively sure that most women are not aware of how to maintain their health and take care of themselves, I wanted to give my humble contribution by writing about some of the most common problems that all women tend to experience. Girls, this blog is for you.