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Osteopenia, a bone disease that is closely related to decreased bone mineral density. It is sometimes a vestibule to osteoporosis, but it differs in the severity of skeletal structure disorders. Early diagnosis and treatment of osteopenia should not lead to osteoporosis. How to prevent it?
Osteopenia – characteristics
Osteopenia is simply a condition in which bone mineral density is lowered. The bone mass in the disease is reduced by 1-2,5 in reference to normal. Most often it affects physically active women and those after menopause or during celiac disease.
What leads to osteopenia?
- avoiding traffic,
- bad diet,
- too much alcohol or coffee consumed,
- smoking,
- taking glucocorticosteroids over a long period of time.
Osteopenia – symptoms
Initially, osteopenia may be asymptomatic, which makes it almost impossible to even suspect a bone disease. Therefore, it is often diagnosed only after, for example, bone injury, e.g. breaking. At a later stage, pain in the bones and spine will appear as the first noticeable symptoms. Another symptom may be a hunched body.
If osteopenia is suspected, a bone mineral density test called bone densitometry is performed. As a rule, drug treatment is then started. In the case of light, early-stage disease, it is usually enough to implement exercise, a proper diet and avoid stimulants.
- Bone pain – learn about the most common causes of bone pain
Osteopenia – counteraction
The menu of the sick, and preventively for everyone, should contain a large amount of calcium. Its deficiency has a direct impact on the development of the disease. Most of it is provided by products such as:
- parsley,
- beans,
- milk products,
- fish products.
However, the most important thing is to take care of your health on a daily basis to prevent diseases. Counteracting osteopenia should begin with vitamin D, found in, for example, fish, eggs, vegetable oils. Its deficiency is the main obstacle to the absorption of calcium into the bones.
You should also take care of the proper level of magnesium in the body. We can find it, for example, in wheat bran, pumpkin seeds, nuts, cocoa. Do not forget about vitamin K, found in foods such as spinach, avocado, broccoli, and egg yolks.
Also Read: Life-Saving Research – Examine Bones and Don’t Break Down
In addition to osteopenia affecting adults, it stands out premature osteopenia, it occurs in infants between 6 and 12 weeks of age. This condition is caused by an insufficient supply of proteins, phosphorus and calcium. You should take care of a diet rich in proteins, vitamins, phosphorus and calcium, and exercise during pregnancy to avoid this situation.
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