Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone which causes it to become abnormally porous. The internal structure of normal bone looks like a honeycomb, but an osteopenic bone has much larger holes in that honeycomb. Bones filled with large holes are weaker by nature as they become less dense and more brittle. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, people over 50 years old are more likely to exhibit signs of osteoporosis and suffer broken bones as a result.
Bone structure
Your skeleton makes up approximately 14 percent of your body weight. The bones in your skeleton are comprised of living tissue that performs six functions: it acts as a framework for your body, protects your organs, enables your daily movement, produces red blood cells, regulates blood glucose, and stores calcium. Inside of your bones exists an intricate yet tightly knit network of cells and channels that act as scaffolding.
Osteoporosis
People who suffer from osteoporosis have bones that are less strong than normal because the interior structure of their bones are no longer tightly woven. Bones that are osteopenic have less bone mineral density, a disruption in bone architecture and a change in the bone proteins. The bone mass that your accumulate over your lifetime is at its peak from ages 14 through 20. A diagnosis of osteoporosis comes after a physician administers a bone mineral density test which finds that you have significantly less bone mineral density than your peak mass. Osteoporosis affects mostly post menopausal women but can affect younger women and men who suffer from genetic problems, those who smoke or those who take glucorcotoids.
Calcium's Role
According to the book "The Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology," bones are not made entirely of calcium -- they also contain approximately 70 percent chondoitin sulfate hypoxyapatite. Regulation of the calcium in your blood is one of your bones most important roles. To that end, bone calcium is constantly being used and replenished to maintain blood calcium balance, especially if your diet is inadequate in calcium. When you consume calcium rich foods or supplements, your body instead uses this dietary calcium to rebuild bones and balance blood calcium . While maintaining adequate calcium intake is crucial to preventing osteoporosis, dietary supplementation after diagnosis does not reverse the condition, it only helps preserve the bone you already have.
Prescription Calcium
When treating osteoporosis, the goal is to prevent future fractures. This is achieved through the combination of prescription drugs and adequate calcium supplementation. Most people who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis are prescribed calcitonin medicines that reduce the risk of broken bones. Calcitonin is a hormone that is regulates calcium and is necessary for healthy bones. Miacalcin and Fortical are two such drugs which are indicated for daily use. Fortical is a nasal spray and Miacalcin comes in both nasal spray and injected form.
Supplemental Calcium
Calcium intake is a key component in building bone as a child and maintaining the bone you have as an adult. Most people acknowledge that they can get calcium from dairy products such as milk and cheese. However, calcium is also present in foods like broccoli, sardines, some nuts and in fortified foods. The National Institute of Health recommends that those who suffer from osteoporosis or want to prevent osteoporosis choose brand name supplements that are tolerable to their stomachs and provide 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day. Adequate calcium intake will ensure that your body can replenish what it uses for blood calcium regulation.
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