Tuesday, January 1, 2013

What are health problems or symptoms that could cause a person with osteoporosis to seek medical care?

Q.

A. There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
Symptoms occurring late in the disease include:--
* Bone pain or tenderness
* Fractures with little or no trauma
* Loss of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
* Low back pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
* Neck pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
* Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a "dowager's hump"
Osteoporotic bone fractures are responsible for considerable pain, decreased quality of life, lost workdays, and disability. Up to 30% of patients suffering a hip fracture will require long-term nursing-home care. Elderly patients can develop pneumonia and blood clots in the leg veins that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) due to prolonged bed rest after the hip fracture. Osteoporosis has even been linked with an increased risk of death. Some 20% of women with a hip fracture will die in the subsequent year as an indirect result of the fracture. In addition, once a person has experienced a spine fracture due to osteoporosis, he or she is at very high risk of suffering another such fracture in the near future (next few years). About 20% of postmenopausal women who experience a vertebral fracture will suffer a new vertebral fracture of bone in the following year.

Osteopenia: Differentiating Osteoporosis and Osteomalacia
Osteopenia is decreased bone mass. Two metabolic bone diseases decrease bone mass: osteoporosis and osteomalacia. In osteoporosis, bone mass decreases, but the ratio of bone mineral to bone matrix is normal. In osteomalacia, the ratio of bone mineral to bone matrix is low.
Osteoporosis results from a combination of low peak bone mass, increased bone resorption, and impaired bone formation. Osteomalacia is due to impaired mineralization, usually because of severe vitamin D deficiency or abnormal vitamin D metabolism (see Vitamin Deficiency, Dependency, and Toxicity: Vitamin D). Osteoporosis is much more common than osteomalacia in the US. The 2 disorders may coexist, and their clinical expression is similar; moreover, mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency can occur in osteoporosis.


What population group is at highest risk for osteomalacia?
Q. a. Infants
b. Elderly men
c. Adult women
d. Children ages 2-12 years

A. Osteomalacia is vitamin D deficiency (and the spectrum of symptoms that causes.) It's commonly due to lack of sunlight exposure... and women generally have higher demands for vit D. So I'd say adult women are most at risk. Also note that in parts of the world where women are covered from head to toe, there's extremely high risk of vit D deficiency.

Elderly men (and women) may have elevated risk, as well. This is mostly due to decreased absorption (food sources) that frequently occurs as we age.

Among infants and children, vit D deficiency is called Rickets. Osteomalacia is adults only.


What population group is at highest risk for osteomalacia?
Q. a. Infants
b. Elderly men
c. Adult women
d. Children ages 2-12 years

A. The condition called Osteomalacia is one where there is a significant softening of the bones in your body. It is usually caused by a vitamin D deficiency. In children, this condition is known as rickets. The concern is that Soft bones are more likely to bow and fracture than harder, more healthy bones.

This is similar, yet different from, osteoporosis, which is a another bone disorder that can also cause bone fracturing. Osteomalacia occurs when the bone-building process in our bodies does not perform correctly, while osteoporosis develops later because of a weakening of previously constructed bone.

Some of the symptoms of osteomalacia are achy pain in the bones and muscle weakness. Typically treatment involves increasing the amount of Vitamin D and calcium in addition to treating any underlying disorders that may be contributing to the deficiencies.

People who have both inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D and little exposure to sunlight have the highest risk of developing this disorder. Therefore the risk is highest in older adults as well as those who rarely get outdoors such as people who are housebound or hospitalized.

Insufficient sunlight is the cause of many problems. Sunlight is truly indispensable to our good health and peace of mind. Many people hide from the sun and deny themselves of the sun�s healing powers. They fear the sun�s damaging ultra-violet rays. History tells us the human race evolved and thrived under the light and energy of the sun.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of osteomalacia, or if you think that you may be at risk for this disorder.

For those who are seeking a healthy solution to many issues, but don't believe that medicinal solutions are the best way to go, let me point you to an alternative care website that will shine more light on these matters.

Follow this link for more information... http://tinyurl.com/24bfrgt . They have a wonderful view on health and the importance of sunlight in our lives.


Is it normal to feel cold in 70 degrees?
Q. It is 70 degrees outside and my freind is cold. She is bundled up in a long sleeved shirt, a scarf, and a jacket and still shivering. Is this normal?

A. absolutely not normal 70's are "perfect". theirs no reason why she should be cold (well not a normal reason) ok it could be a number of things. These include but aren�t limited to:Anemia (low blood count, especially common in menstruating women with significant monthly blood loss);
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
Age (the very young or elderly may have more difficulty with body temperature regulation); (but i don't think it's that lol)
Exposure to cool or cold environments without proper protection;
Stress or anxiety;
Poor health or infections such as the common cold, leukemia, lupus, bladder infection, septicemia (blood infection), hepatitis, Menkes disease, decreased immune function and others;
Malnutrition;
Gallstones (chills and sweating, along with pain);
Medications (potential side effects from narcotic pain relievers, beta interferons, others);
Anorexia nervosa (poor nutrition, anemia, very low body weight, fatigue);
Allergic reaction;
Uncontrolled diabetes;
B�vitamin complex deficiency (may increase cold sensitivity).

(feeling cold is one of the symptom)

Feeling Cold

Anemia can make you feel cold all the time, even in a warm room.

What patients said:

"I notice sometimes I get really cold, I get chills."

"Sometimes I get really, really cold. It could be hot, and I'd be cold."
Chills can occur with an infection, making you shiver and feel cold even though your body temperature may be normal or even elevated. Chills can happen to anyone and are most common at the start or end of an infection. Chills with a normal or elevated temperature should not be treated with warm clothing or blankets, as this can raise the body temperature to a dangerous level.

If your body temperature falls below the normal range, even by just a few degrees, you have hypothermia. Hypothermia can be dangerous, especially the farther your body temperature falls. If your temperature falls below 96 degrees, you should seek immediate medical care. You can treat mild or severe hypothermia until help arrives by warming the person slowly with blankets and making sure the person is dry.

When you are very sensitive to cold weather, you may have cold intolerance. Cold intolerance can be a sign that your body has a hard time warming itself. Common causes of cold intolerance include anorexia, anemia and hypothyroidism. If you find even mildly temperatures difficult to bear, you should contact your health care provider.now i said it's "absolutely not normal " but let me clarify in 70 degrees isn't cold but it's not hot-now to me 70s you don't need a coat or jacket. but to have long sleeves scarf and a jacket and still cold! i don't think it's normal. hope i help





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