Posted 14 December, 2021
Osteoporosis and its Treatment methods
The problem of bone and joints has become common everywhere, be it the village or the city. With ageing, this problem starts developing on its own. One such disease is osteoporosis which is common in the elderly, but nowadays due to the changing environment, this disease is also taking its grip on the youth and its effect is more in women than in men, especially those who are overweight.
Osteoporosis literally means porous bones in which the quality and density of bones are reduced. The bones of the body are made up of calcium, phosphorous, protein and many types of minerals but with wrong eating habits, modern lifestyle and increasing age, these minerals start getting destroyed. As a result, the density of bones starts decreasing and weakening. Sometimes the bones become so weak that even a small injury becomes the cause of fracture.
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
There are no symptoms in the early stages of osteoporosis but when there is a lot of damage to the bones, then its symptoms start to be understood. These symptoms are:
- Feeling weak or tired.
- Fracture even in minor injuries.
- Extreme pain in the joints, severe back pain.
- Body bending.
- Stiffness or swelling in the joints.
- Difficulty in walking.
Causes of Osteoporosis
There are many reasons for getting osteoporosis, the main ones being the following-
Growing old-
One of the biggest causes of osteoporosis is ageing because, with age, the bones of the body keep breaking and new bones keep growing but after 40 to 50 years, the bones start breaking faster instead of growing back. As a result, the bones become more fragile. During the above age, this problem is more in women because during this time there occurs a major change in their hormones.
Having a genetics reason-
Some diseases are due to genetics which is passed on from generation to generation among the members of the family. These include osteoporosis that could be passed on if someone in the family has this disease.
Lack of calcium and vitamin D in the body-
The body needs all kinds of nutritious substances because these substances make the body healthy. These include calcium and vitamin D whose main function is to strengthen the bones but if a person does not consume calcium and vitamin-rich elements, then he may have to face many diseases including osteoporosis.
Side-effects of any medicine-
When we are sick, doctors prescribe some medicines that help us to recover but these medicines also have some side effects due to which the chances of getting many serious diseases like osteoporosis increases.
Weakening of immunity-
The main cause of osteoporosis is a weak immune system. Therefore, people should exercise regularly so that their immunity remains strong.
Other Causes of Osteoporosis are
- Due to a lack of protein in the body.
- Lack of exercising.
- Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Having diabetes and thyroid.
- Do not let sunlight fall on the body.
- Polluted environment.
- Low estrogen levels in women in menopause.
- Cancer treatment therapy and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Lack of physical activity.
How to prevent osteoporosis?
The number of patients suffering from osteoporosis is increasing rapidly due to which the patient has to face many problems but people can prevent osteoporosis if they take certain precautions-
- Eat nutritious food rich in iron, calcium, protein etc.
- Drink a sufficient amount of water.
- Exercise regularly to remain healthy.
- Everyone should control their weight so that they do not get any kind of serious disease.
- Get your health checked regularly.
Home remedies for Osteoporosis
Apple cider vinegar-
The use of apple cider vinegar proves to be beneficial for health in many cases because they are rich in nutrients like calcium, potassium and magnesium. These nutrients help in maintaining healthy bones. Hence, apple cider vinegar is considered good for the treatment of osteoporosis and arthritis.
Consumption of foods rich in vitamins-
Vitamins play an important role in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. According to research published on the website of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium in the intestines. Vitamin C increases the density of bones and strengthens them. Therefore, we should consume foods rich in vitamins like cheese, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables etc. in our diet.
Essential oils are beneficial-
Consuming essential oils is a good way to avoid or reduce the symptoms of osteoporosis because they contain components like thymol, borneol, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and menthol. All these elements are helpful in increasing bone health and reducing the problem of osteoporosis.
Triphala is beneficial-
According to Ayurveda, the consumption of Triphala is considered good to prevent bone problems. Triphala is made up of three Ayurvedic medicines Harad, Bahera and Amla which helps to protect the bones from damage and make them strong. It also has anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from increasing the collagen of the bones, it helps in preventing osteoporosis.
Dandelion tea-
Dandelion is also known as Singhparni and is used to cure many diseases as it contains an element called inulin, which is a type of carbohydrate. Apart from curing many diseases, this is also helpful in removing the weakness of bones.
Coriander-
Coriander is good for the strength of bones and the health of the tissues that make them up. According to a research paper, an element called silicon is found in coriander leaves which proves to be good for keeping bones healthy and preventing osteoporosis.
Broccoli is beneficial-
By eating broccoli, bones and body joints remain strong as it is rich in vitamin K, calcium and magnesium. These nutrients work to keep bones strong. Therefore, people who have weak bones and joints must include broccoli in their diet.