Bone Health - Overview
This is the most common bone disease seen as we age. It is a gradual, progressive condition that makes our bones porous day-by-day, without our realising it, until we suffer a fracture. This happens due to loss of density, leading to weak and brittle bones, with an increasing tendency for easy fractures.
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
In most cases, osteoporosis patients do not know they are suffering from it until they end up fracturing their bones easily. This is because osteoporosis does not have many typical symptoms. However, to know about certain pointers that could spell osteoporosis
Causes of Osteoporosis
A low calcium diet reduces bone density, leading to early bone loss. This increases the risk of fractures. To know more about the causes of osteoporosis.
Homeopathy Treatment for Bones
Studies have indicated the efficiency of homeopathic medicines in accelerating the healing of bone fractures. To know more about the benefits of homeopathy in restoring bone health.
Bone Health - Causes
A number of factors can affect bone health:
• low calcium intake in the diet - a diet low in calcium reduces bone density, causes early bone loss and increases risk of fractures;
• mineral deficiency - can occur due to nutritional deficiency or an error in nutritional absorption;
• hormones - parathyroidism, which takes away calcium from the bones;
• vitamin D deficiency - people who are indoors with no exposure to the sun;
• thyroid dysfunction - leading to nutritional deficiency and bone loss;
• low sex hormones - in case of women, at menopause or any disease which causes low estrogen, whereas in men, disease causing low testosterone;
• diseases - gastro-intestinal disease such as Chron’s, irritable bowel syndrome and anorexia or any form of eating disorder can affect the body’s ability to absorb calcium and vitamin D, thus leading to osteoporosis; and
• certain medications - long-term use of steroid medications, certain medications used in cancer, anti-depressants, methotrexate, some anti-epileptics and antacids. All of these are known to cause brittle bones.
Risk factors
• age - it is known that after 30, bone density starts to reduce;
• women are more prone to suffer than men;
• over-weight and obesity;
• heredity;
• tobacco or smoking may cause depletion of nutrition;
• alcohol, leading to bone thinning; and
• lack of exercise.
Bone Health - Symptoms
The biggest challenge with osteoporosis is that it does not have any symptoms. Most commonly, the patient will not know that they are suffering from osteoporosis until they end up fracturing their bones easily. The most common areas for fractures are the wrists, the spine and the hip.
Certain pointers to suspect osteoporosis are as follows:
• If you suffer from non-specific pain all over the body, sometimes it is debilitating, leading to immobility.
• The bone feels tender when touched.
• One can look for the signs of parathyroid hormone disorder such as body pains and joint pains, nausea, heart burn and tiredness.
Diagnosis
Our doctors will evaluate the patient’s bone health, identify their risk factors and will recommend bone density serum calcium tests. The results will help our doctors gauge the patient’s bone density and determine the rate of bone loss. By evaluating this information and the risk factors, our doctors can assess whether the patient can be a candidate for medication to help slow down bone loss.
The diagnosis will be done by our doctors by evaluating the patient’s medical history, bone density test and certain blood tests.
1. medical history that includes identification of causative factors such as hormonal and mineral deficiencies, family history, history of medications and the patient’s age;
2. blood test is necessary to rule out underlying diseases, namely:
o serum calcium levels;
o serum vitamin D levels;
o in case of parathyroidism, serum phosphorus and alkaline phosphates;
o in case of thyroid dysfunction, the thyroid function test; and
o in case of kidney disorders, the ferritin levels.
3. Scans:
o Bone mineral density - to determine the density of the bone, it is the first step in prevention of osteoporosis. The results will help our doctors to understand the bone density and determine the patient’s rate of bone loss.
o Dexa scan (DUAL X-ray absorptiometry) - measures the bone density to identify the fracture risk; the areas include the spine, the hip and the total bone density.
o Ultrasound and CT scan can be advised in certain cases, but may not be necessarily advised in all cases.
Complications
Physical disabilities:
• easy fracture - due to osteoporosis, it becomes painful and takes a long time to heal;
• kyphosis - loss of spinal curvature;
• disability due to restricted movements, inability to perform day-to-day activities;
• spinal compression leading to reduction in height of a person and may lead to nerve compression, leading to back pain and radiating pain in the legs and feet;
• disfigurement to the compression of the spine; and
• secondary infections such as pneumonia, bed sores and urinary tract infections due to immobility.
Emotional complications:
• decreased quality of life, pain, lost work days and disabilities;
• depression and negative body image caused by anxieties about being fragile;
• a sense of restriction and limitation;
• lack of confidence because of the inability to dress up, stand and walk
• fear of falling, making the patient anxious when in crowded places;
• fear of the loss of independence;
• financial burden due to hospitalisation and absenteeism at work;
• inability to carry on with the daily routine;
• feeling of being helpless and alienated; and
• strained relationships with family and friends.
• Bone Health - Treatment
• Studies suggest that homeopathy helps in accelerating the healing of bone fracture.
• Homeopathic medicines not only help in easing the pain but also help with the associated emotional symptoms of osteoporosis. Homeopathy helps in increasing the absorption of vitamins and minerals from the food that is eaten, thus providing more nourishment to the bone and reducing the chances of osteoporosis.