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Milk or mineral water? This can protect against osteoporosis
In Germany alone, up to eight million people are affected by osteoporosis. Often sufferers do not notice for a long time about their illness. Sooner or later, however, the bone loss causes a marked reduction in the quality of life in the patients. Although there are various treatment options, but you can also do yourself a lot to prevent.
Up to eight million Germans affected by osteoporosis
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), osteoporosis is one of the top ten most common diseases. The metabolic disease is also described as "silent epidemic of the 21st century". Quiet because crumbling bones themselves do not hurt and there are no early warning systems. In Germany alone, six to eight million people are affected, including every third woman over 50, as the news magazine "Focus" reports. "It is alarming that osteoporosis is still an underestimated, underdiagnosed and underdeveloped disease in this country," said Prof. Reiner Bartl, director of the "Osteoporosis Center at the Cathedral" in Munich. Bartl is the author of the book "The Great Patient Guide to Osteoporosis".
What really helps with osteoporosis. (Image: underdogstudios / fotolia) Sneezing can lead to bone fracture
Osteoporosis is even curable in its early stages. The first signs of the disease include extreme back pain, low back pain and rheumatic body aches. In many cases, according to the news magazine, an unrecognized vertebral fracture is the cause. In advanced cases, lifting a bag or sneezing or coughing can trigger a fracture. Osteoporosis affects mainly postmenopausal women. It is true that the later the change begins, the less one is at risk. "Of course we osteologists are looking forward to hormone replacement therapy during the menopause," says Prof. Michael Amling, Director of the Institute for Osteology and Biomechanics at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. With the onset of the climacteric and decreasing estrogen levels, bone density deteriorates dramatically as this hormone protects the skeleton from degradation. According to the report, all major studies show a clear association between low body weight (a BMI below 20) and osteoporosis. In addition, according to health experts in addition to estrogen and calcium deficiency, including anorexia, many births, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, lack of exercise, stress and various drugs and genetic predisposition are suspected as possible causes of osteoporosis. It is also known that chemotherapy in cancer can increase the risk. An Austrian research group has recently reported that a new strategy may protect breast cancer patients from osteoporosis.
Regular exercise and sufficient sunbeds
Ideal is osteoporosis prevention before the bones disappear. The best prevention is trained muscles. The motto of Prof. Bartl: "Everyone is his skeleton blacksmith!" Here, regular exercise, preferably outdoors. But you should not just focus on the power. Ricarda Krusemark-Rasch, a state-certified sports and gymnastics teacher from Munich specializing in osteoporosis, recommends training two to three times a week in different areas for one hour. "A strong muscle is important, but it also means that it is often shortened, so stretching is essential," said the expert. "Until 2009, the standard therapy of osteologists was to prescribe all supplements of calcium and vitamin D to all patients," explained Prof. Amling. This has now completely changed after studies came to the conclusion that the intake of calcium supplements is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. "Today, we only give calcium to patients who suffer from eating disorders or gastric acid blockers - in the form of gluconate or citrate instead of carbonate. In these cases, there is also no increased cardiovascular risk. "Crucial to bone health is vitamin D, because it promotes the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract and thus the hardening of the bone. "I assume that in Germany alone, 27,000 femoral neck fractures could be saved each year if everyone consumed 1000 IU of vitamin D daily." Bones need sun because the body needs UV light for its own vitamin D production. The German Society for Orthopedics and Traumatology (DGOU) had already referred to this in the past. It should be half an hour of sunbathing a day.
Calcium through milk or mineral water
Whether milk strengthens the bones or possibly even causes the opposite, experts argue for some time. Prof. Bartl says: "Dairy products are clearly positive because they represent a very good source of calcium." Although it is argued, many experts agree that milk and exercise are both simple and helpful in osteoporosis prevention. In a Milchzuckerunverträglicheit or vegan diet, you could easily provide without additional preparations sufficient with the mineral, most easily by calcium-rich mineral water. In previously used drugs such as calcitonin, patients complained of side effects ranging from chills to nausea and vomiting.
Patients often stop taking medication therapy too early
A problem with the therapy is according to doctors that many patients stop the medication too early because of side effects or fast successes. "You have to be patient," says Prof. Bartl. "The bone takes time to reach a positive balance again." Today there are different therapy concepts. As the doctor said, no one today has to accept the pulling, stinging, burning that comes from the fractures, one-sided restraint or a crooked, weak back. Osteopathy and physiotherapy can help alleviate chronic pain, most commonly caused by contracting muscles.
Happiness affects bone health
The relationship between mental state and the development of osteoporosis has only recently come into the focus of research. According to the Focus, studies have shown that women with severe depression have six percent less bone mass than the control group. "The bone is controlled by the head or the central nervous system," explained Prof. Bartl. He continued, "One of the causes of the association between depression and osteoporosis, in my opinion, is the inactivity and listlessness of depressed patients." While many people assume, the skeleton is not passive, but is constantly being rebuilt. So it has a direct impact on bone health, if you're an active, happy person. (Ad)