Calcium, the most important mineral in the human body in terms of quantity, might play an important part in helping women prevent a potentially dangerous and debilitating manifestation of an age-related health issue.
Scientists and other medical professionals believe this substance can be effective in combating post-menopausal osteoporosis. The following brief article discusses menopause, osteoporosis and the nutrient’s role in preventing the ailment.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is a natural phenomenon that occurs in all women as they age. During this process, a woman’s ovaries cease production of several reproductive and other hormones, resulting in an end to her menstrual cycles as well as her ability to bear children. In addition, the condition produces a number of physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flashes, disrupted sleep patterns, mood swings, chills, night sweats, weight gain, slowed metabolism, dry skin and thinning hair.
What Is Osteoporosis?
Menopause could also result in far more serious health-related issues. One such concern is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that impacts the bones. The condition is categorized by diminished bone mass and the loss of tissue within the connective structures. As this illness progresses, it could leave those afflicted susceptible to serious problems such as pain and immobility. However, in more severe manifestations, sufferers may experience debilitating, perhaps life-altering symptoms like bone fractures or paralysis. This is because bone fractures associated with osteoporosis often appear in the spine and hip. Osteoporosis is most common in elderly women and is also not often detected until an afflicted individual has sustained a fracture.
Why Does Menopause Increase a Woman’s Risk of Developing Osteoporosis?
Estrogen, one of the primary female reproductive hormones, helps maintain strong and sturdy bone structure. As the body produces less and ultimately none of this chemical, the bones gradually lose strength and progressively weaken.
Calcium’s Role in Preventing Post-Menopausal Osteoporosis
Calcium is contained in commonly consumed dairy products like milk and cheese and is well-known for its ability to help build strong bones. Calcium is so beneficial that world-renowned scientific and medical experts, such as those employed by the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS), have established a new clinical guide.
EMAS recommends menopausal and post-menopausal women ingest anywhere from 700 to 1,200 milligrams of the nutrient per day in order to limit their risk of developing post-menopausal osteoporosis. However, the organization’s representatives believe meeting this requirement is much easier said than done. The agency ascertains deficiencies exist due to poor dietary habits and the fact that vitamin supplements are not always properly absorbed or well-tolerated by those who use such drug preparations. Therefore, EMAS officials additionally recommend women make the appropriate dietary alterations and ask their doctors to continually monitor levels of the nutrient within their bloodstreams.
Post-menopausal osteoporosis is a serious health concern many aging women must face. The consequences of being afflicted with this illness could be debilitating, if not devastating. However, scientists believe women can lessen or possibly prevent the occurrence of this illness if they increase their intake of calcium.