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Osteoporosis
| Definition |
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| The
thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time.
Osteoporosis
is the most common type of bone disease. There are currently
an estimated 10 million Americans suffering from osteoporosis,
as well as another 18 million who have low bone mass, or osteopenia.
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Calcium Intake
is Vital
Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone,
or when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both. Calcium
and phosphate are two minerals that are essential for normal bone
formation. Throughout youth, the body uses these minerals to produce
bones. If calcium intake is not sufficient, or if the body does
not absorb enough calcium from the diet, bone production and bone
tissues may suffer. As people age, calcium and phosphate may be
reabsorbed back into the body from the bones, which makes the bone
tissue weaker. Both situations can result in brittle, fragile bones
that are subject to fractures, even in the absence of trauma.
1 in 2 Women
Over 50 Will Suffer a Fracture
Researchers estimate that about 20% of American women over the age
of 50 have osteoporosis. In addition, another 30% of them have osteopenia,
which is abnormally low bone density that may eventually deteriorate
into osteoporosis, if not treated. About half of all women over
the age of 50 will suffer a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra.
Symptoms
There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Symptoms
occurring late in the disease include: |
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Low
back pain |
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Neck pain |
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Bone pain
and tenderness |
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Loss of
height over time |
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Stooped
posture |
Treatment
The chiropractor works on relieving symptoms and complications associated
with osteoporosis.
To see if chiropractic may be able to help you call 253-638-2424
today for a complimentary consultation.
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