Osteoporosis literally means “bone that is porous”, It is a disease in which the bone density and bone mass is reduced . This loss of density and mass causes the bones to become more porous thus more brittle and fragile. This in turn increases the risk of fracturing the bones if you slip or fall.
How the disease affects us
This loss of bone density and mass occurs silently and progressively, usually in the spine, wrists, hips, pelvis and upper arms. Often, there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs, which is why we call Osteoporosis the “silent disease”, “the silent killer “ or the “silent crippler”. Sometimes, the only physical sign of osteoporosis is the loss of height with a gradual curvature of the back (caused by vertebral compression fractures).
There are many misconceptions about osteoporosis, for example that it is “an old woman’s disease”, however, bone loss in women and men can begin as early as the age of 25.
“Bone loss in women and men can begin as early as the age of 25”
The steady decline in bone mass
Bone mass is built from the time we are born until our early 20’s. From there it declines. Anyone with a child or teen who has chosen to become vegan should seek the advice of a healthcare professional to ensure they are not compromising the health of their bones and take a supplement like Cal20 to support bone health for their future selves.
In the same way we cannot feel our blood moving through our bodies , we cannot feel our bones weakening. Unless you have a bone density scan, you can live unaware that you have osteoporosis until you fracture or break a bone. At this point you are suddenly made aware of the disease and realise its severity, which is usually life changing. Once you break an osteoporotic bone it struggles to heal because the machinery is not there to rebuild the bone like it can when the body is young.
“Osteoporosis is the major cause of fractures in women and men over the age of 50”
How fractures occur
Fractures often occur in bones of the hip, vertebrae in the spine and wrist but can occur anywhere in the body.
Worldwide, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will have an osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime. A terrifying statistic is that it is estimated that an osteoporotic fracture is occurring every 3 seconds. We are talking about a disease that affects a third of the world’s population, which in itself is seriously significant and should not be ignored.
In 1999 and 2000, when we moved away from mainstream calcium due the side effects like constipation and kidney stones, osteoporotic fractures increased by 25% worldwide. Estimates are that this number will increase by 100% over the next 20 years. Luckily Cal20 is now on the market and we have the ability to change those deadly statistics.
The reason this is a killer disease is because once a bone is fractured, 20% of patients die within a year, 60% are disabled to some extent and only 20% recover.
How to tackle the problem
In European death statistics, Osteoporosis rates number four after Heart Attacks, Dementia and Lung cancer. The best way to fight this killer disease is to not let your bones get into osteoporotic state in the first place.
Do these things now:
- Take Cal20
- Do weight bearing exercise every day
- Eat a healthy diet high in foods rich in calcium and protein and cut out sugar
- Get good sleep
- Get enough Vitamin D from 10 mins of daily sun exposure and through foods like oily fish, eggs, mushrooms, dairy and cruciferous vegetables
- Maintain a healthy body weight – being too thin (BMI under 19) is damaging to your bone health.
- Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol
- Be aware of your osteoporosis risk factors and have a bone density scan if you are over 50.
Information sources
About Osteoporosis – osteoporosis.foundation/patients/about-osteoporosis
What is it? + A-Z guide from Nofsa – osteoporosis.org.za/information/what-is-it/
Prevention – osteoporosis.foundation/patients/prevention
