Help With Osteoporosis in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin

Learn about the causes of Osteoporosis & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Osteoporosis within New Zealand.

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Therapies which may benefit Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition affecting bone mass. Bones become overly porous like a sponge making them brittle and fragile and Osteoporosis sufferers have an increased risk of fractures. It is common in post-menopausal women and the elderly.

Causes of osteoporosis

After the age of 35, the bones begin to become weaker and thinner due to more bone cells being lost than replaced. Post-menopausal women are Osteoporosis | The Wellness Directory at a greater risk due to a decrease in the hormone oestrogen which helps keep bones healthy. In men, testosterone is essential to bone health but the majority of males continue to produce the hormone into old age.

Certain diseases affecting the glands that produce hormones can cause osteoporosis. These include hyperthyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes and pituitary gland disorders.

Other factors which increase osteoporosis risk include:

family history
excessive alcohol consumption
smoking
Crohn's disease
Coeliac disease
low BMI (as a result of an eating disorder)
lengthy periods of inactivity
high-dose corticosteroid drugs (used for arthritis and asthma treatment)
blood clot prevention medications
low vitamin D

Symptoms of osteoporosis

Due to osteoporosis taking many years to develop, symptoms do not become apparent until a minor fall or impact results in a bone fracture. Common fractures include wrist, hip and vertebrae and it is not unusual for a rib to break when sneezing or coughing.

In the elderly, bone fractures do not heal properly leading to arthritis and disability. A visible sign of osteoporosis in the elderly is a stooped posture due to spinal bones becoming fractured and unable to support the body's weight.

Diagnosis of osteoporosis

People who are a high risk of osteoporosis include:

menopausal women
women who have undergone hysterectomy surgery before the age of 45
the elderly
people with eating disorders

If you suspect that osteoporosis may be affecting you then in the first instance you should visit your GP. Your doctor will then refer you for a bone density scan (known as a DEXA scan) to measure the density of your bones.

The DEXA scan is rated as a T score:

If your T score is 0-1 then you are within normal range
Between -1 and -2.5 is a bone density between normal and osteoporosis (known as osteopenia)
A T score below -2.5 is classed as having osteoporosis

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Health Tech New Zealand Our joints (such as the elbows and knees), are surrounded by a membrane called the Synovial Membrane. This membrane forms a capsule around the ends of two articulating bones and secretes a liquid called the Synovial Fluid - HA (Hyaluronic Acid) being a chief component.

Synovial fluid is a viscous fluid with the consistency of motor oil - providing the lubrication and the elastic shock absorbing properties to the joint, and the transportation of nutrients to the cartilage and the removal of waste from the joint capsule.