And to survive the menopause, and to prevent osteoporosis

Menopause and osteoporosis – how not to stumble on a step
Natalia Gensh, medical editor of the portal "Health of Ukraine"A little bit about menopause

The menopausal period takes quite a long period of time in a woman's life. It begins (on average) at the age of 45 and lasts up to 65-70 years and consists in the restructuring of the body, corresponding to the transition of a woman from the childbearing period to old age. The main changes that trigger all other processes associated with menopause occur in the reproductive (sexual) system of a woman. They are characterized by a gradual decrease, and then a complete cessation of ovarian function. These changes are called reproductive aging.

As you know, the ovary is a paired sex gland in which the formation of female sex hormones (estrogens and progesterones) and the development of female germ cells (eggs) occur. In the menopausal period, the development of eggs initially stops (which is manifested by the loss of a woman's ability to conceive and procreate), and then the hormonal function of the ovaries is disrupted (which is manifested by a violation of regularity and the gradual cessation of menstruation).

However, a decrease until the complete cessation of the formation of sex hormones affects not only menstrual function. Female sex hormones (primarily estrogens) take an active part in the vital activity of the body. They affect the condition and function of almost all organs. The most sensitive to estrogenic effects are skin and hair, brain and liver, heart and blood vessels, mammary glands, organs of the urinary and reproductive systems, bones, muscles and joints. Moreover, the effect of estrogens on a woman's body is mainly positive – they provide smoothness and elasticity of the skin, the beauty of hair and nails, the femininity of the figure, the presence of libido (sexual desire), protect women from diseases of the cardiovascular system (atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease), increase the activity of immunity, strengthen bones and muscles. The disappearance of the estrogenic effect characteristic of menopause leads to a significant change in the structure and work of these organs, which often complicates the course of menopause and leads to many undesirable consequences. One of the serious undesirable consequences of menopause is osteoporosis.

More about osteoporosis

Bone mass and quality of bone tissue are not a constant value – they constantly change throughout life and largely depend on the degree of physical activity, the nature of nutrition (the main emphasis is on proteins, calcium and vitamin D) and the level of sex hormones. Starting from birth, there is an active process of accumulation of bone tissue and an increase in bone mass, which reach a peak at the age of 25-30 years. After 40 years, bone aging begins (decrease in bone mass), which continues until death and is significantly intensified in women after the termination of ovarian function (in the menopausal period). Osteoporosis is a severe form of bone aging.

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease of the skeleton, which is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and a violation of the structure of bone tissue, which is manifested by increased bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. The causes leading to the development of osteoporosis are numerous and among them are age–related hormonal changes in women. Such osteoporosis is called postmenopausal (from "post" – after, "menopause" – the last menstruation). That is, the development of this form of osteoporosis begins during the end of menstrual function and manifests itself after 10-15 years with the development of bone fractures. Most often fractures occur in the bones of the spine, the neck of the hip and the bones of the forearm. Moreover, fractures in osteoporosis occur as a result of minimal trauma, falling from a height of one's own height, and sometimes – for no apparent reason at all.

Very often (in 50% of women) osteoporosis occurs without clinical manifestations (asymptomatic), so the disease is detected at a late stage – during examination for a bone fracture. In the other half of the fair sex, symptoms of osteoporosis are present long before fractures occur. Osteoporosis is most often manifested by complaints of pain in the lower back and sacrum, which increase with physical exertion, in motion, with prolonged stay in one position and pass after resting in a horizontal position. It is characteristic that these pains are not relieved by conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. Other common manifestations of osteoporosis are stooping, reduced growth, gait disorders, the appearance of skin folds on the lateral surfaces of the chest (due to reduced growth).

Diagnosis of osteoporosis is carried out using X-ray examination of bones, densitometry (determination of bone density), computed tomography, ultrasound and some laboratory tests.

Treatment of osteoporosis consists in the appointment of hormonal drugs (replacement therapy with female sex hormones – HRT, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, androgens), biphosphonates, vitamin D preparations, fluoride and calcium salts.

How to prevent the development of osteoporosis

The likelihood of developing osteoporosis is influenced by many factors, which are called risk factors. Risk factors are divided into unavoidable (which cannot be changed) and preventable (which can and should be influenced).

Unavoidable risk factors:

• female gender and belonging to the white race;
• hereditary predisposition to the development of osteoporosis (a feature of the genetic apparatus);
• old age;
• late first menstruation (after 16 years);
• early termination of menstruation (early or premature menopause) – up to 40-45 years;
• menstrual cycle disorders in the form of poor menstruation or their prolonged absence (not related to pregnancy);
• infertility associated with ovulation disorders;
• low body weight (less than 60 kg);
• ovarian removal surgery performed at a young age.

Preventable risk factors include:

• smoking, alcohol or caffeine abuse;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• excessive physical activity;
• low consumption of calcium-containing foods;
• vitamin D deficiency (insufficient insolation, irrational nutrition);
• excessive consumption of meat.

It is impossible to influence unavoidable factors – this is a fact. However, it is possible to reduce the risk of osteoporosis by eliminating preventable risk factors – this should be the goal of preventive measures. So, for the prevention of osteoporosis, it is necessary:

1. Adhere to the principles of rational nutrition. The goal should be to maintain a normal body weight throughout life and mandatory adequate intake of calcium (up to 1000 mg / day). The greatest amount of calcium is found in hard cheese, dried fish with bones, celery, milk, cottage cheese, kefir, sardine with bones, sunflower seeds, green vegetables and green leaves. It is also recommended to take medications containing calcium and other minerals for preventive purposes (see below).
2. Maintain sufficient (age-appropriate) physical activity throughout life. Adequate physical activity is vital, including for elderly and senile women. For them, special complexes of physical exercises should be selected that promote normal metabolism, strengthen the muscular corset, normalize the work of the vestibular apparatus, and prevent falls.
3. Timely identify and eliminate diseases that can cause osteoporosis. We are talking, first of all, about diseases of the endocrine system (menstrual disorders, diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, diabetes mellitus).
4. Give up smoking, alcohol intake and coffee abuse. Completely exclude carbonated drinks from the diet (even mineral water should be drunk only after the gas comes out of it).
5. Actively use medications that contain vitamin D, as well as stay in the fresh air for a sufficient time in order to ensure the necessary level of insolation, which contributes to the normal level of vitamin D synthesis by the cells of the body.

As mentioned above, the prevention of osteoporosis is facilitated by taking medications containing vitamin D, calcium and other minerals involved in bone metabolism.

Calcium is the main structural component of bone tissue, the lack of which leads to the development of osteoporosis. In addition, calcium provides normal permeability of the vascular wall, participates in the transmission of nerve impulses, in the work of the heart and muscle contraction, the process of blood clotting. Calcium is included in the composition of Calcemin in the form of two salts – citrate and carbonate – which allows for maximum intake of the element into the body (regardless of the state of the digestive system), improve the absorption of calcium and its involvement in the formation of bone tissue.

Vitamin D3 contributes to the normal absorption of calcium and its participation in the construction and restoration of bone tissue.

Zinc is a component of more than 200 enzymes involved in various fields of activity of the body, including in the processes of formation and functioning of bone tissue.

Copper participates in the synthesis of connective tissue components, preventing the leaching of minerals – components of bone tissue.

Manganese normalizes the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans – substances necessary for the formation of bone and cartilage tissue.

Boron regulates the activity of the parathyroid hormone, which plays an important role in the metabolism of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

And in conclusion…

At the beginning of the 20th century, women on average lived about 50 years, so they did not face the problem of osteoporosis. In the modern world, a woman's life expectancy has increased to 80 years, and the problem of postmenopausal osteoporosis has acquired the character of a "silent epidemic", which causes suffering and disability, a decrease in the quality of life and premature death of the fairer sex. To avoid these consequences, it is necessary to be aware of the problem and to prevent its occurrence long before the onset of menopause. A woman can effortlessly change her lifestyle, the nature of her diet, give up bad habits, and the achievements of modern medicine will help her to remain active, healthy and beautiful for many years to come. Take care of your health!

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru16.04.2010